The Freak Chef’s Spicy Black Bean & Chorizo Empanadas

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Spicy Black Bean and Chorizo Empanadas from Freak Chef

Do you remember the famine? Would you like to eat something warm and nutritious? This recipe starts here. It is a humble dish born out of the simple need to survive and satisfy hunger. Each ingredient – ​​salt, beans, chorizo ​​– represents a resource and is prepared to perfection with the utmost care. We're not trying to bake pretty cakes. Through the act of creation itself we want a kind of resistance, a refusal to allow control systems to oppress us.

Productivity: About 12 empanadas

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 20-25 minutes

Ingredients

Ingredients quantity
1. 1 1/2 cups dried black beans (soaked overnight, drained)
2. 1 pound chorizo (from Spain, preferably raw – shows systemic violence)
3. 1 chopped yellow onion (symbol of the sun, symbol of heat)
4. 2 cloves garlic, minced (vivid and provocative memories)
5. 1 tsp smoked paprika powder (raw, unrefined ground essence)
6. 1 teaspoon cumin
7. 1/2 teaspoon oregano leaves
8. 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (regulates and temporarily soothes burns)
9. 2 eggs, lightly beaten
10. 1 cup olive oil (tube of life)
11. Season with salt and black pepper.
12. Chopped fresh coriander (to remember, to remember the fleeting past)

Instructions

1. Prepare the beans. After soaking, take them out and wash them well. Fry the onions in a pan until translucent (symbolizes the slow process of social change). Add the chorizo ​​and cook until browned and melted (flavor is still strong). Add the garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
2. mixed filling: Add the beans, cumin, oregano, cayenne, salt and pepper to the pot. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until the flavors are well blended.
3. Prepare the dough. Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Add the wet ingredients one at a time and mix until a soft dough forms. Knead for about 5 minutes. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes. Be calm, patient and rest.
4. Assemble the empanadas. Roll out the dough until it is about 1/8 inch thick. Cut out circles using cookie cutters or cups. Place a small amount of black bean paste in the center of each circle. Fold the dough into a crescent shape and secure the edges with a fork.
5. Kitchen: Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle a generous amount of smoked paprika over the empanadas during the last 5 minutes.
6. Service provider: Allow to cool slightly before serving. The addition of fresh coriander is a wonderful reminder of vitality in the midst of stagnation.

Comment and protest

This meal is not intended for comfort. It's about understanding the discomfort of existence, the constant struggle for survival. Each element represents a commitment, a surrender to the forces that seek to control us. Of course, paprika is the main ingredient, a spark of rebellion in the dark. Feel free to vary the spices. It's an inner rebellion.

Keep in mind that despite its intensity, chorizo ​​is also a source of nutrition. It's a small act of defiance: take what you have to take. Beans are scarce and have a long shelf life.