Molotes (Masa Empanadas) filled with Mushrooms, Roasted Green Chiles, and Cheese
Molotes are basically empanadas made with a disk of fresh masa then filled with your filling of choice. These molotes are little savory pockets filled with an earthy and spicy filling of sautéed mushrooms, roasted green chiles, and Oaxaca cheese. They taste great as is, but also taste fantastic drizzled with crema Mexicana, red chile sauce, or your choice of salsa. Molotes can be filled with any zesty filling you can think of. Authentic molotes are fried, but I baked them for a healthier alternative and then wrapped these mouth-watering hand pies in parchment paper for easy grabbing.
3Anaheim chilesroasted, peeled, stemmed, and chopped
1cupshredded Oaxaca or queso quesadilla cheese
Molote Dough:
2cupsmasa harina corn flour
1cupall-purpose flour
1tablespoonClabber Girl Baking Powder
1teaspoonvegetable shortening
1/2teaspoonsalt
2 1/2cupswarm water
Canola oil for brushing the dough
Instructions
Make Spicy Mushroom Filling:
Melt butter with olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Stir in mushrooms and sauté for 10 minutes or until tender. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the sour cream and chile and cook until warm. Remove pan from heat. Stir in cheese until melted. Set mixture aside.
Make Molote Dough:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl thoroughly mix the flours and baking powder. Add the shortening and salt and mix well using your hands. Add water to give the dough the consistency of soft cookie dough. Divide into golf ball size balls and cover with plastic wrap.
Using a tortilla press, flatten a ball of the dough between two sheets of plastic wrap, making a medium-large (5 to 6-inch round) tortilla. Remove the top piece of plastic.
Add your 1 to 2 tablespoons of filling to one side of the tortilla, then fold in half and press edges together with a fork creating a seal. Lay molotes on a foil-lined baking sheet. Spray the foil with cooking spray to keep the molotes from sticking to it. Generously brush the molotes with canola oil.
Bake for 20 minutes and then broil for 2 to 3 minutes.
Keep warm in the oven at about 250 degrees F. Best when served warm.