How To: Make a Filipino-style chicken empanada

To make the Crust, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

Cut in the butter and shortening with a knife or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Stir in the iced water, a little at a time while gathering the mixture to form a soft dough.

Form the dough into a ball. Sprinkle some flour onto a sheet of waxed paper and wrap dough in the waxed paper. Chill 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

To make the Filling, heat the oil and butter in a skillet. Add onions and sauté about 1 minute, then add garlic and sauté a further 1 minute. Add the cubed chicken meat and stir-fry until the chicken browns.

Add potatoes and carrots and cook 2-3 minutes. Stir in water or broth and simmer until potatoes and carrots are tender and chicken is fully cooked.

Add peas and raisins and simmer a further 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. With a slotted spoon, drain ingredients and transfer to a bowl, letting excess liquid drip. Set aside for 30 minutes to cool.

Preheat oven to 200¬8 C (400¬8 F). Remove chilled dough from refrigerator. Lightly flour a pastry board or clean table top. Using a rolling pin, roll out dough on a pastry board until it is 3 mm (1/8 in) thick. don't roll it too thin or it will break when baked. Cut 10 cm (4 in) circles using a cutter and a small bowl.

Gather the scraps and re-roll them so they can be used again. You should get about 20 pastry circles.

Spoon about 1-2 teaspoons Filling into the middle of each pastry circle. Fold the circle so the edges meet and filling is sealed. Press the edges of the pastry with the tines of a fork.

Combine lightly beaten egg with 1 tablespoon of water. Brush surface of each folded puff with egg mixture. Arrange on a greased baking sheet. With a knife make 2-3 slits on the surface of each puff to allow steam to escape while baking.

Bake puffs in preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Set aside for a few minutes to cool before serving.