🥟 Empanada
An empanada is a stuffed pastry that’s baked or fried, popular in Latin America, Spain, and parts of the Philippines. It has a flaky dough exterior with savory or sweet fillings inside.
🧾 Basic Empanada Filling Ideas
Common fillings include:
- Ground beef with onions and spices
- Chicken with peppers and garlic
- Cheese
- Tuna or vegetables
- Sweet versions with fruit or custard
🍽️ Simple Beef Empanadas Recipe
Ingredients
Dough (store-bought or homemade pastry dough)
- 250–300g ground beef Beef
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 1–2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika or chili powder
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp oil
- Optional: olives or boiled egg pieces
🔥 Instructions
1. Cook filling
- Heat oil in a pan
- Sauté onion and garlic until soft
- Add ground beef and cook until browned
- Mix in spices and cook until dry and flavorful
- Let it cool completely
2. Fill dough
- Roll dough into small circles
- Place 1–2 tbsp filling in the center
- Fold into half-moon shape
- Seal edges with fork or pinch firmly
3. Bake or fry
- Bake: 180–200°C (350–400°F) for 20–25 minutes until golden
- Fry: medium heat until crisp and golden brown
đź’ˇ Tips
- Don’t overfill or they may burst
- Cool filling prevents soggy dough
- Brush with egg wash for shiny, golden crust
- Serve with salsa, chili sauce, or yogurt dip
🌍 Flavor profile
- Crispy or flaky exterior
- Savory, spiced filling
- Highly customizable across cultures
If you want, I can give you:
- Air fryer empanada version
- Chicken or cheese empanadas
- Or a quick 10-minute “no-dough shortcut” version
