Cheesesteak Empanadas

Ingredients:

• 220g sirloin steak, cut into very thin strips about 2cm long.
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• Half a small onion, thinly sliced
• Half a small green bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 110 g provolone cheese, cut into small cubes
• 1 large egg
• 1 package (500g, 2 sheets) frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 1 cup store-bought cheese sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped pepperoncini
• Premium flour for working with dough
• Special equipment: round cookie cutter with a diameter of 10 cm.

Preparation:

1. Position two racks in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 220°C.
2. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When it shimmers, add the beef, a pinch of salt, and some freshly ground black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is lightly browned around the edges and cooked through, 2-3 minutes. Transfer the beef to a bowl and set aside.
3. Add the garlic, onion, and bell pepper to the same skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until the peppers are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes.
4. Transfer the vegetables to the bowl with the beef and stir. Let cool slightly. Stir in the provolone. In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg with 1 tablespoon of water and set aside.
5. Place 1 sheet of puff pastry on a floured surface. Roll it out into a 30x30 cm square. Using a 10 cm cookie cutter, cut out 9 circles from the dough. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the meat filling slightly off-center from each circle.
6. Brush the edges of each circle with beaten egg and fold the dough over the filling, stretching it slightly if necessary. Pinch the edges of the dough and crimp with a fork to seal the filling inside.
7. Transfer the empanadas to one of the prepared baking sheets and brush each with a little beaten egg. Repeat with the remaining pastry sheet, filling, and egg. Bake the empanadas until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
8. Meanwhile, combine the cheese sauce, pepperoncini, and some of the brine in a bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds, then stir. Heat until smooth.
9. Serve empanadas with cheese sauce for dipping.