Ah, empanadas 🥟—crispy, savory pockets that are perfect for snacks, meals, or parties. They’re basically dough stuffed with a filling and baked or fried. I’ll give you a classic, easy version.
🥟 Easy Empanadas
Ingredients (makes ~8–10)
For the dough
- 2 1/4 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup (115 g) cold butter, cubed
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) cold water
For the filling (beef classic)
- 1/2 lb (225 g) ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup olives, chopped (optional)
- 1 hard-boiled egg, chopped (optional)
For assembly
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Instructions
1. Make the dough
- Mix flour and salt in a bowl.
- Cut in cold butter until crumbly.
- Mix egg and water, then gradually add to flour until dough comes together.
- Wrap in plastic and chill 30 minutes.
2. Make the filling
- Heat a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook onion and garlic until soft.
- Add ground beef, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until browned.
- Remove from heat. Stir in olives and chopped hard-boiled egg if using. Let cool.
3. Assemble empanadas
- Roll dough to ~1/8 inch thick.
- Cut circles (~4–5 inch diameter).
- Place 1–2 tbsp filling in the center.
- Fold dough over and crimp edges with a fork.
- Brush tops with beaten egg.
4. Cook
- Bake: 200°C / 400°F for 20–25 minutes until golden
- Fry: Heat oil to 350°F / 175°C and fry 2–3 minutes per side until golden
✅ Tips
- Don’t overfill — dough tears easily
- Chill dough before rolling for easier handling
- Experiment with fillings: chicken, cheese, vegetables, or even sweet fruit
If you want, I can give you a super quick shortcut version using store-bought pie crust or puff pastry, ready in 20 minutes.
Do you want me to do that?
