Crab Empanadas with Pickled Garlic-Caper Remoulade

This recipe is part of a Cuban-Style Christmas: Mojito, Garlic Plantain Chips, Lime, Garlic, and Oregano Mojo, Avocado Salad, Gloria's Black Bean Soup, Crab Empanadas with Pickled Garlic-Caper Remoulade and Roasted Pork Marinade.

• 2 tablespoons sliced Pickled Garlic

• 2 tablespoons capers, drained

• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

• 1/2 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley

• 3/4  cup mayonnaise

• 1 tablespoon coarsely ground pepper

Crab Filling:

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

• 3/4 cup finely diced white onion

• 1 teaspoon minced garlic

• 8 ounces lump crabmeat, pickled through

• 2/3 cup seeded and finely diced plum tomatoes

• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• 3 scallions, finely sliced

• Salt and pepper to taste

Empanada Dough:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• 1/2 cup ice-cold water

• 1 teaspoon salt

• Vegetable oil, for frying

Pickled Garlic (recipe follows):

• 3 cups white wine vinegar

• 3 tablespoons sugar

• 3 tablespoons salt

• 8 heads garlic, broken up and peeled

• 3 sprigs thyme

• 8 peppercorns

• 2 bay leaves

• 1 tablespoon mustard seeds

1. Place all of the roumoulade ingredients in a blender and food processor and puree until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

2. To prepare the crab filling, heat the olive oil in a saute pan or skillet and saute the garlic and onion over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool slightly.

3. Transfer the onion and garlic to a large mixing bowl. Add the crabmeat, tomatoes, Parmesan, and scallions, and mix well. Season with salt and pepper and refrigerate.

4. To prepare the dough, place 2 cups of the flour in a mixing bowl. Add the vegetable oil and water slowly, mixing on a low speed with an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the remaining cup of flour and the salt, and mix until thoroughly incorporated and the dough is elastic.

5. Turn out the dough to a well-floured work surface and roll out to a thickness of about 1/8 of an inch. Using a 3-inch round pastry cutter, cut out 15 to 20 circles.

6. Place about 1 tablespoon of the crab filling in the center of each dough round, fold over to form a half-moon or turnover, and seal the edges with a fork.

7. In a large cast-iron pan, heat 1 inch of the oil to 300 degrees. Fry the empanadas until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with remoulade on the side.

Pickled Garlic
Yield: Approximately 1 quart

1. In a saucepan, bring the vinegar, sugar, and salt to a boil and stir until the sugar and salt dissolve.

2. Place the garlic cloves in a glass storage jar and add the thyme, peppercorns, bay leaves, and mustard seeds. Pour the vinegar into the jar and let cool. Cover and store until needed.