From the sweet to the savory, theres no filling that isnt made better when its wrapped in a delicate, flaky pastry.
This popular Latin American food is renowned around the world as a decadent and filling main course. Today, were uncovering the history behind this dish, how to make it, and the many variations that make it so unique.
Before we get too far, lets briefly discuss the history and origins of our subject: empanadas! Whats the background of these rich and satisfying pastries, and how does todays version measure up?
Similar to an American turnover but far more versatile, an empanada is a fried or baked pastry shaped like a crescent moon. Once the bread has been made with flour dough or corn flour dough, its then stuffed with myriad fillings depending on the occasion and your taste.
Then, youll fry it up until its golden brown and savor it one bite at a time!
What Is An Empanada? Empanadas are crescent-shaped, savory pastries made of dough and filled with a variety of ingredients. Empanada filling varies greatly, and can include anything from beef, chicken, pork, tuna, shellfish, cheese, and / or vegetables, seasoned vibrantly, then baked or fried to perfection.
The Origin of Empanadas
Throughout Latin America, youll find many different kinds of doughs, fillings, and cooking methods used to make empanadas. Yet, most variations have their roots in the same place: Galacia, Spain.
Their first appearance took place during the Moorish invasions in Medieval Iberia. In fact, in 1520, a cookbook in Catalan describing regional Catalan, French, Italian and Arabian food mentions empanadas by name! At that time, bakers would create the pastries as round pies or in rectangular dishes. Then, theyd slice them into single servings.
Over time, Spanish colonists carried the dish to Latin America and the Philippines, and it wouldnt take long for empanadas to become synonymous with that countrys culture. Theyre also an essential and popular dish in Argentina, available across Buenos Aires and the rest of the country as both fast-food fare and restaurant staples.
Fillings: Yesterday and Today
During those beginning days, the most common empanada fillings were chicken or tuna, along with bell peppers and onions. Now, almost every corner of the world has its own take on the meal.
Take Argentina, for example. Here, a typical empanada consists of a flour-based dough with various forms of meat fillings, including cubed or ground beef, ham, or chicken. You can also find hard-boiled eggs, olives, peppers, and onions folded into the mixture. Across the country, different regions take their own approach to the cooking process. In Salta, empanadas are usually baked, while in Tucumán, theyre fried.
Around the world, a few of the most popular fillings include:
- Beef
- Chicken
- Tuna
- Ham
- Mexican chorizo
- Pulled pork
- Lobster or crab
- Cheese
- Baked potatoes
- Vegetables
- Fruit (apples, guava)
While meat and vegetable reign supreme, its not uncommon to find empanadas filled with fruit as an unexpected yet indulgent dessert.
How to Make Empanadas | So Delicious and Easy!
FAQ
What are traditional empanadas made of?
What is the most common empanada?
What is considered an empanada?
Are empanadas usually corn or flour?
What are empanada fillings made of?
In their countries of origin, empanada fillings usually consist of meat (like chorizo) or fish (like tuna or sardines) and are often flavored with tomatoes and fresh spices. Other recipes use anything from ground beef or lamb to a medley of fresh seasonal vegetables.
What is an empanada?
An empanada is a type of baked or fried turnover consisting of pastry and filling, common in Spain, other Southern European countries, Latin American countries, and the Philippines. The name comes from the Spanish empanar (to bread, i.e., to coat with bread), and translates as ‘breaded’, that is, wrapped or coated in bread.
What are empanadas & how do you make them?
Empanadas (which means “to wrap in bread” in Spanish) are handheld versions of traditional Spanish meat pies. While their fillings, size, and cooking techniques vary from one Latin American country to the next, they all begin by filling pastry dough with savory ingredients and then cooking—either baking or frying—to flaky, golden-brown perfection.
What are the different types of empanadas?
Baked cheese empanadas or empanadas de queso al horno: Empanadas filled with cheese and onion, sprinkled with demerara sugar and baked until golden. Empanadas de verde or green plantain empanadas with cheese filling: Empanadas made from green plantain dough and stuffed with cheese and onions.