🥟 Golden Homemade Empanadas (Savory Hand Pies)
✨ Introduction
Empanadas are delicious stuffed pastries with a crispy, flaky crust and a flavorful filling inside. They are loved all over the world, especially in Latin America, Spain, and parts of the Mediterranean. You can fry them or bake them, and fill them with meat, chicken, cheese, or vegetables.
They’re perfect for family dinners, parties, Ramadan tables, lunchboxes, or just when you want something warm and comforting.
📜 History of Empanadas
Empanadas come from Spain and Portugal. The name comes from the Spanish word “empanar”, which means to wrap in bread or dough. Spanish travelers brought them to Latin America, where each country created its own version.
Today:
- Argentina is famous for beef empanadas 🇦🇷
- Chile adds olives and eggs 🇨🇱
- Mexico makes spicy versions 🇲🇽
- The Philippines has sweet and savory kinds 🇵🇭
They became popular because they’re easy to carry, store, and eat — like an old-school portable meal!
🧈 Ingredients
🥖 For the Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 150 g cold butter (or margarine), cubed
- 1 egg
- ½–¾ cup cold water
🥩 For the Savory Beef Filling
- 300 g ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ bell pepper, finely diced
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cumin (optional but delicious)
- 2 tbsp tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- Optional: chopped olives, boiled egg pieces, or cheese
🥚 For Brushing
- 1 egg yolk + 1 tbsp milk
🥣 Method 1: Making the Dough
- In a large bowl, mix flour and salt.
- Add cold butter cubes. Rub with your fingers until it looks like coarse crumbs.
- Add the egg and mix.
- Slowly add cold water until dough comes together.
- Knead lightly (don’t overwork).
- Wrap in plastic and chill 30 minutes.
🍳 Method 2: Preparing the Filling
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Add onion and garlic, cook until soft.
- Add bell pepper and cook 2 minutes.
- Add ground beef. Cook until browned.
- Stir in salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, tomato sauce.
- Cook until mixture is thick, not watery.
- Turn off heat, mix in parsley and optional extras.
- Let filling cool completely.
⚠️ Hot filling will make dough soggy — cooling is important!
🥟 Formation (Shaping the Empanadas)
- Roll dough to about 2–3 mm thickness.
- Cut circles (10–12 cm diameter) using a bowl or cutter.
- Place 1–2 tbsp filling on one half of each circle.
- Fold into a half-moon shape.
- Press edges with a fork to seal tightly.
- Place on a lined baking tray.
🔥 Cooking Methods
🧁 Baking (Healthier Option)
- Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F)
- Brush tops with egg yolk mixture
- Bake 20–25 minutes until golden brown
🍟 Frying (Extra Crispy)
- Heat oil in deep pan (medium heat)
- Fry empanadas 2–3 minutes per side
- Drain on paper towels
🌟 Benefits of Empanadas
✔️ Portable and easy to eat
✔️ Freezer-friendly
✔️ Customizable fillings
✔️ Great source of protein (with meat filling)
✔️ Can be baked for a lighter version
🥗 Nutrition (Approx. per baked empanada)
- Calories: 220–260 kcal
- Protein: 8–10 g
- Carbs: 20 g
- Fat: 12–15 g
(Varies depending on filling and cooking method)
❤️ Why Food Lovers Adore Empanadas
Food lovers enjoy empanadas because they combine:
- Crispy outside + juicy inside
- Endless flavor combinations
- Comfort food feeling
- Perfect for sharing
They bring people together — families, friends, celebrations… everyone reaches for “just one more.”
🧡 Conclusion
Empanadas are more than just pastries — they’re little pockets of culture, history, and flavor. Whether baked or fried, simple or fancy, they’re always a crowd-pleaser.
Make a batch, share with people you love, and enjoy every golden, flaky bite 🥟✨