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EmpadinhaMini Chicken Pies

Miniature pies that see high volume for party appetizer searches.

Empadinha (Mini Chicken Pies) — Brazilian home cooking
Empadinha (Mini Chicken Pies) — Brazilian home cooking

Empadinhas are individual, single-bite tartlet pies baked in small metal tins. They use a fragile short-crust pastry casing filled with creamy chicken and hearts of palm.

Ingredients

Method

  1. Rub cold butterRub cold butter into sifted flour and salt until coarse crumbs form
  2. Add the eggAdd the egg yolk and ice water, mixing gently just until the dough comes together
  3. Chill wrapped inChill wrapped in plastic wrap for 30 minutes
  4. Press small portionsPress small portions of dough along the bottoms and sides of ungreased mini tartlet tins, keeping the pastry 2mm thick
  5. Fill each shellFill each shell with cold creamy chicken filling
  6. Roll out theRoll out the remaining dough, cut small circular lids, place them over the filled tins, press edges firmly to seal, and brush tops with egg wash
  7. Bake at 200°CBake at 200°C for 22 to 25 minutes until golden brown
  8. Cool slightly beforeCool slightly before unmolding

Questions

How long does Empadinha take?

About 52 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of cooking — 1 hour 17 minutes total, yielding 20 mini pies.

What is the classic empadinha filling?

Shredded chicken with requeijão or catupiry in a creamy sauce, topped with an olive — the small, crumbly-crusted cousin of the empadão.

Why does the filling need to be cold and thick?

A runny warm filling soaks the raw crust before baking. Cook it thick, cool it completely, then fill and bake.