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Beef Empanadas - Delicious Meat Pies

Empanadas are a great dish for eating at the dinner table or for eating on the go. These handheld pies are jam packed full of flavor and are a great way to spice up your life.

April 30, 2021
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Homemade Beef EmpanadasPhoto By Petite Gourmets
Difficulty Medium
Servings 6-8 people
Preparation 20 mins
Cooking 35 mins
Total 55 mins

Homemade Beef Empanadas Recipe Video

Ingredients

Directions

Empanada Filling

  1. Put olive oil in a medium pot. Heat it over low heat. Add the onion and cook for about 5 minutes until it turns pink.
  2. Add the garlic and bell peppers to the pan and fry with the onion for 1 minute.
  3. Add the ground beef, tomato paste, salt, pepper, oregano and cumin.
  4. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes over medium heat until the mixture has thickened.
  5. Then remove the pot from the heat and let it cool.

Empanada Dough

  1. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt in a food processor.
  2. Add the butter, egg and chicken stock. Mix all the ingredients until you get a doughy consistency.
  3. Then roll the dough into a ball. Wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Baking

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 °F (190 °C).
  2. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and divide it into two parts. Cut the dough into small pieces on a greased and floured counter and roll out with a rolling pin. Cut into circles with the help of a bowl or cups.
  3. Put 2 tablespoons of filling ingredients in the middle of each circle. Wet the edges of the dough with water and fold the dough in a semicircle.
  4. Close the edges with the help of a fork.
  5. Put the parchment paper on the baking tray. Brush eggs on the empanada dough.
  6. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until the top of the dough turns golden.
  7. Serve warm with sour cream.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 Homemade Beef Empanadas
Serves 6-8
Amount Per Serving
Calories482
% Daily Value*
Cholesterol 99 mg33%
Sodium 527 mg22.9%
Potassium 681 mg14.5%
Protein 27 g54%
Total Fat 20.1 g25.8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Tips

  • Be sure to seal the dough very well so that the filling does not spill out when you fry it.
  • Fry them one at a time so as to not overcrowd the fryer and cause the temperature to fall. This will make the outside soggy.
  • Make sure you allow the filling to reduce in the pan so that it is not too wet when you add it to the empanada.
  • After you drain the grease, put it on a plate lined with a paper towel to catch any excess grease.
Rate This Recipe

Empanadas are an amazing dish that you can find in many different countries such as Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Argentina, and even the Caribbean. One of the best things about these beautiful flavor pillows is that you can fill them with whatever you want.

This recipe features a traditional beef filling that is very delicious. Add these to your family’s taco night or give them a night to themselves. Either way you go you cannot go wrong with this recipe at your disposal.

What Is an Empanada?

Empanadas are crescent-shaped, savory pastries made of dough and filled with a variety of ingredients. Empanada fillings vary greatly and can include anything from beef, chicken, pork, tuna, shellfish, cheese, or vegetables, seasoned vibrantly, then baked or fried to perfection.

What Is Usually In An Empanada?

When it comes to empanada filling the sky's the limit. Typically, what comes in an empanada is some kind of protein such as pork, chicken, or beef. On some occasions they can be filled with fish, cheese, or veggies. Usually empanadas also have at least one or two simple vegetables like corn, diced potatoes, or carrots.

Are Empanadas Mexican?

The name empanada comes from the verb empanar, meaning to wrap or coat in bread. Empanada is made by folding a dough or bread patty around the stuffing. Empanadas have their origins in Galicia (Spain) and Portugal.

They first appeared in Medieval Iberia during the time of the Moorish invasions. A cookbook published in Catalan in 1520 mentions empanadas filled with seafood among its recipes of Catalan, Italian, French, and Arabian food. It is believed that empanadas and the very similar calzones are both derived from the Arabic meat-filled pies, samosas.

What Kind of Dough Is Used for Empanadas?

Empanada dough with fillingPhoto By Canva

Empanada dough is very similar to that of a pie crust so feel free to use pre-rolled pie crust sold in the refrigerated section. This will turn out sweeter than traditional empanada dough, however. Something else that will work are the canned biscuits or crescent rolls. All you have to do is press them and roll them thin for a flakier empanada.

Which Country Has The Best Empanadas?

In all reality there is no one country that has the best empanadas. That is left up to the opinions of the eaters, preferably who have tried literally every empanada in every variation in every country in South America as well as Spain and Portugal.

They do some things a little different with the dough, or what they fill it with. Ultimately it does not matter what country you are in. You will find a great empanada anywhere you go.

What Do You Eat with Empanadas?

You can serve them with a salad made of shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes and cucumber and dress it with fresh lime juice and salt. You can also serve them with pickled red onions as well and a savory tomato sauce. Refried beans is another great side dish that can be served with your empanada as well, with Latin style sour cream.

Recipe byPetite Gourmets

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