Understanding the versatility of empanadas is essential in exploring their rich cultural significance across Spanish, Latin American, and Southern European traditions. These baked or fried pastry delights offer a wide range of fillings, encompassing traditional meats and sweet treats, which makes them incredibly versatile. Embracing this diversity can be a great way to explore new flavors and broaden one’s culinary horizons.
Mozzarella, Basil, And Tomato Empanadas
You can’t go wrong with the classic combination of tomato, basil, and mozzarella in a salad or pizza – and the same principle applies to empanadas. This particular recipe is inspired by the iconic caprese salad, cleverly reimagined as a savory grilled cheese that’s perfect for both lunch and dinner. What sets this recipe apart is its simplicity and ease of preparation, making it an ideal starting point for beginners who want to master the art of fried empanada-making.
Serve these mouth-watering empanadas with a side of your favorite sauce – perhaps a delicious basil garlic sauce or something else that complements their flavors.
Beef And Mushroom Empanadas
Love beef empanadas? You’re not alone! They’re one of the most popular fillings for this delicious Latin American pastry, and it’s easy to see why – especially when ground beef is cooked with mushrooms. The earthy flavor of the mushrooms perfectly complements the richness of the beef, making them a great way to get kids to try something new.
This recipe is perfect for beginners who want to learn how to make empanadas from scratch, as it includes clear instructions for both the pastry and filling. And don’t forget to serve them with a tangy dollop of chimichurri sauce – it’s a match made in heaven!
Spicy Chicken Empanadas
Among the numerous delicious empanada fillings, spicy chicken stands out as a crowd-pleaser. The combination of juicy chicken breast seasoned with chili, garlic, onion, cilantro, and other spices creates a flavor profile reminiscent of on-the-go fajitas. While the spice levels can be tailored to individual taste, one thing is certain – this dish packs a punch! For those who like a little heat, spicy chicken empanadas pair perfectly with a tangy salsa verde or a creamy sauce, such as sour cream.
By adding your own twist, you can take these empanadas to the next level and enjoy them on any occasion.
Spinach And Feta Empanadas
Zeroing in on a delicious yet mild snack, these spinach and feta empanadas are an excellent option. The harmony between spinach and feta creates a subtle yet satisfying flavor profile that complements the crispy fried exterior perfectly. This recipe utilizes pre-made empanada discs for convenience, but feel free to make your own dough from scratch if you’re feeling adventurous. Serve these tasty treats warm, accompanied by your preferred dipping sauce for an added burst of flavor.
Shrimp Empanadas
While many people are familiar with traditional beef and cheese-filled empanadas, the seafood option is often overlooked. However, making empanadas with fish, specifically shrimp, can be a game-changer for seafood lovers. The combination of succulent shrimp, savory spices, and crispy pastry creates a flavor experience that surpasses even the most mouthwatering meat or cheese fillings. To elevate the dish further, consider adding small pieces of chorizo to give it an extra boost of flavor.
Shrimp empanadas pair perfectly with a zesty salsa dip or a spicy kick from a garlic jalapeño sauce.
Spicy Black Bean Empanadas
Most vegetarians are pleasantly surprised to discover that they can enjoy a variety of empanadas, including those filled with a spicy black bean mixture. This particular recipe is not only high in protein but also boasts an incredibly rich flavor profile, rivaling its meat-based counterparts in terms of taste and satisfaction.
Interestingly, the spicy black beans evoke a similar culinary experience to vegetarian burritos, making for a mouth-watering Latin American-inspired dish that’s sure to delight even the most discerning palates. It’s worth noting, however, that this pastry is not suitable for vegans due to its non-plant-based ingredients.
BBQ Pulled Pork Empanadas
Revamping the traditional empanada recipe by infusing it with the flavors of America’s beloved BBQ pulled pork is an exciting venture. This innovative fusion brings together two distinct culinary styles, resulting in a dish that is both culturally rich and delectable. The combination of melted cheese and the tangy, slightly spicy kick from the aji amarillo sauce creates a harmonious balance of sweet, mild, and spicy flavors that will leave you wanting more.
When paired with a Spanish cilantro sauce, these empanadas reach new heights of flavor and become an absolute delight to enjoy.
Argentinian Beef Empanadas
Making the most of Argentina’s culinary delights is easy when you can whip up your own flavorful Argentinian-style empanadas in the comfort of your home. These delicious pastries feature a mouth-watering filling mixture of tender beef, an assortment of sautéed vegetables, and firm hard-boiled eggs, all carefully blended together to create a truly authentic taste experience.
Interestingly, one key aspect that sets these empanadas apart from their fried counterparts is the fact that they’re baked instead of deep-fried, resulting in a more delicate and flaky crust that’s simply irresistible.
Vegetarian Empanadas
Making any meal more exciting can be achieved by adding a delicious empanada filling that’s not only flavorful but also packed with nutrients. This vegetarian filling, featuring sweet potato, chickpeas, lentils, kale, jalapeño peppers, and other wholesome ingredients, makes for an incredibly tasty empanada recipe perfect for vegetarians. The addition of hard-boiled eggs helps balance out the spiciness from the jalapeños, while also providing a unique texture to each bite.
To take these empanadas to the next level, serve them with a homemade chimichurri sauce that will add an extra layer of flavor.
Crab Empanadas
Finding yourself craving the flavors of the Gulf Coast of Mexico? Try indulging in these crab empanadas, typically sold by vendors and served in small baskets to shield them from sand. But don’t worry if you can’t get your hands on fresh crab – this simple recipe allows for a delicious imitation crab alternative. Whether you’re using real or fake crab, the empanadas pair perfectly with a zesty salsa or homemade tartar dip for an added burst of flavor. Go To Recipe
Chilean-Style Cheese Empanadas
Undoubtedly, fans of grilled cheese will adore Chilean-style cheese empanadas, which are elevated by the use of whole milk mozzarella that melts effortlessly, though other meltable cheeses can be substituted with great results.
Spicy Butternut Squash Empanadas
Adding an extra layer of flavor to your empanadas this fall can be as simple as incorporating autumnal flavors into the filling. The key to bringing out these warm, comforting notes is by using seasonal ingredients such as butternut squash. When sautéed with hot spices and jalapeño, the sweetness of the squash balances beautifully with the heat from the peppers. To temper this spiciness, melted cheese is added to create a harmonious balance of flavors.
This recipe truly embodies the essence of warmth and coziness that’s synonymous with fall. Pairing these empanadas with a lime and cilantro cream dip elevates the entire experience.
Baked Tuna Empanadas
Taking advantage of canned tuna’s convenience is another popular fish filling option. This involves mixing the tuna with ingredients like tomatoes and then baking it in the oven, which results in a flakier consistency compared to frying the dough. Given its robust flavor, these empanadas can be enjoyed without any additional sauce.
Vegan Empanadas
Creating delicious and cruelty-free food options is definitely possible for vegans! This vegan empanada recipe is a great example of how plant-based ingredients can be combined to make mouth-watering dishes that everyone can enjoy, regardless of their dietary preferences. The dough of these empanadas is made from flour, salt, water, and vegan butter, ensuring that it’s free from eggs and dairy products.
The filling inside the empanadas is a flavorful mixture of sautéed vegetables, which are then combined with either tofu or tempeh for an added protein boost. Unlike traditional fried empanadas, these ones are baked in the oven, making them a much healthier alternative to their deep-fried counterparts. Vegan empanadas can be paired with a variety of sauces, but they particularly pair well with tangy and herby flavors like chimichurri or salsa verde. Go To Recipe
Air Fryer Empanadas
Renovating traditional fried empanadas, beef empanadas can be made with ease using an air fryer. The homemade beef picadillo is a classic and mouth-watering empanada filling that gets wrapped up in the dough, which cooks to a delightful crisp in the air fryer without requiring an abundance of oil. If you’re short on time, pre-made empanada dough can be used as a convenient alternative.
Chicken And Chorizo Empanadas
Not only do these chicken and chorizo empanadas pack a punch of flavor, but they’re also incredibly easy to make. The combination of the mild chicken and spicy chorizo creates a truly satisfying taste experience that’s sure to please even the most discerning palates. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner in the kitchen, this recipe is perfect for those who want to give empanadas a try without feeling overwhelmed by complicated instructions. And the best part?
They pair perfectly with a variety of sauces, from tangy chimichurri to rich and spicy salsa – so don’t be afraid to get creative and find your own favorite combinations!
S’mores Empanadas
Elevating empanadas to a whole new level, it’s entirely possible to create delightful desserts with this traditional pastry. S’mores empanadas are a match made in heaven – the flaky texture of the crust pairs perfectly with the gooey chocolate and marshmallow filling. The added touch of drizzled chocolate and powdered sugar on top is the perfect finishing flourish, making these sweet treats sure to become your family’s new go-to dessert.
And be warned: once you try them, you’ll likely want to make batch after batch of these heavenly empanadas!
Blueberry Goat Cheese Empanadas
Rest assured that pairing blueberry and goat cheese might not be the most conventional choice, but it surprisingly works beautifully in these delectable empanadas. The sweetness of the fresh blueberries complements the rich and creamy texture of the goat cheese perfectly, creating a delightful harmony of flavors. These versatile empanadas are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth at any time of day – whether you enjoy them as a dessert, a breakfast treat, or a light snack!
Strawberry Empanadas
Nothing captures the essence of summer quite like the delightful combination of strawberries and empanadas. These sweet pockets of joy are essentially bite-sized versions of a classic pie, offering the perfect balance of convenience and indulgence as they can be enjoyed on-the-go. Not only do strawberry empanadas make for a delicious summer treat, but they’re also surprisingly easy to prepare!
Directions
Yesterday, we went over a selection of recipes for you to try. Now it’s your turn! Select one that catches your eye from the list above. By clicking on the recipe name, you’ll be taken directly to its corresponding website, where you can find all the necessary details. Once there, make sure to gather all the ingredients and follow the instructions carefully. After cooking, sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor – and don’t forget to leave a review once you’ve finished!
