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Empanadas

17/11/2023

I can provide you with the basic recipe for empanadas, a dish typically Latin American with each country having its own version. In addition, I will offer a small Italian variation!

Ingredients for the basic empanadas dough:

  • 500g of flour
  • 120g of butter
  • 1 egg
  • 150ml of water
  • 1 teaspoon of salt

Ingredients for the filling:

  • 300g of ground beef (or vegetarian alternative)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 100g of pitted and chopped green olives
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon of cumin
  • 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Oil for frying

Preparation

  1. Dough: Mix the flour with the salt in a bowl. Add the butter in pieces and work the dough until it has a sandy consistency. Add the egg and water gradually, working until a homogeneous dough is obtained. Let the dough rest for about 30 minutes covered with plastic wrap.

  2. Filling: Fry the onion and garlic in oil until they are transparent. Add the ground beef and cook until it is no longer pink. Season with salt, pepper, add cumin and paprika, and continue cooking for a few more minutes. Let the filling cool, then add the olives and chopped hard-boiled eggs.

  3. Assembly: Roll out the dough to about 3mm thick and cut discs of 12-15 cm in diameter. Put a tablespoon of filling in the center of each disc, then fold in half and seal the edges with the tines of a fork.

  4. Cooking: Bake the empanadas in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Italian variation: You could replace the filling with Mediterranean ingredients, such as ham, mozzarella, and a pinch of oregano, for an Italian touch. Or, for a vegetarian filling, you can use sautéed spinach with garlic, ricotta, and Parmesan cheese.

Serve them hot for a crunchy and succulent meal. Empanadas can be accompanied by a spicy sauce or a fresh sauce like chimichurri.

**### Curiosity ** Empanadas are a versatile and popular dish at parties and gatherings because they are easily eaten with your hands and there are endless variations of the filling!

Empanadas