Pastelitos

Pastelitos de carne, or Salvadoran empanadas, are fried  turnovers filled with minced meat and vegetables. In El Salvador they are served as an afternoon snack, but they also make great appetizers for parties. To save time, cook the fillings and assemble the empanadas the day before. You can refrigerate them overnight in a covered container before frying them.

The dough of pastelitos de carne is made of corn masa flour. The dough is rolled out into thin mini tortillas and the stuffing is placed in the center of each. Pastelitos have a particular half-moon shape. After this filling process is completed, the pastelitos are deep-fried in vegetable oil. The pastelitos are nothing more than little fried pastels.