Best 2 Authentic Empanada Pastry Dough Recipes

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**Empanadas:** A Culinary Journey Around the World

Empanadas, a delectable treat originating from Spain, have captured the hearts and taste buds of food lovers worldwide. These savory or sweet pastries consist of a pliable dough enveloping a flavorful filling, often a combination of meats, vegetables, cheeses, and spices. The versatility of empanadas allows for endless variations, each region or country boasting its unique culinary interpretation.

In Argentina, empanadas are a national dish, with each province showcasing its signature fillings. The classic empanada criolla features a succulent blend of ground beef, hard-boiled eggs, olives, raisins, and spices, while the empanada salteña boasts a rich filling of beef, potatoes, and peas.

Colombia's empanadas are equally diverse, with the empanada de carne, filled with flavorful ground beef, being a popular choice. The empanada de pollo, filled with tender chicken, is another favorite, while the empanada de queso, filled with a gooey, melted cheese, offers a delightful vegetarian option.

Mexico's empanadas, known as empanadas de horno, are typically baked rather than fried. These pastries often feature savory fillings such as picadillo, a mixture of ground beef, potatoes, and vegetables, or tinga, a spicy shredded chicken filling.

In Chile, empanadas are a staple of the national dish, the empanada de pino. This classic empanada is filled with a savory mixture of ground beef, onions, hard-boiled eggs, and olives, all seasoned with cumin and paprika.

No matter where you go, empanadas offer a delectable journey through diverse cultures and culinary traditions. Whether you prefer the savory or sweet, fried or baked, empanadas are a delightful treat that will tantalize your taste buds and leave you craving more.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

EMPANADA DOUGH



Empanada Dough image

This empanada dough recipe can be used to make any kind of empanada, including chicken empanadas, potato and chorizo empanadas, and more.

Categories     Quick & Easy     Chill     Gourmet

Yield Makes enough for 12 pastries

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 large egg
1/3 cup ice water
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

Steps:

  • Sift flour with salt into a large bowl and blend in butter with your fingertips or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal with some (roughly pea-size) butter lumps.
  • Beat together egg, water, and vinegar in a small bowl with a fork. Add to flour mixture, stirring with fork until just incorporated. (Mixture will look shaggy.)
  • Turn out mixture onto a lightly floured surface and gather together, then knead gently with heel of your hand once or twice, just enough to bring dough together. Form dough into a flat rectangle and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, at least 1 hour.

CLASSIC EMPANADAS



Classic Empanadas image

These classic empanadas are ubiquitous all over Argentina. Filled with minced beef, hard-boiled egg, green olives, and potatoes, they make a filling snack or packed lunch treat.

Provided by Fioa

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Latin American     South American     Argentinian

Time 1h35m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 potatoes
1 tablespoon butter
2 onion, chopped
3 spring onions, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt to taste
¾ cup green olives, pitted and chopped
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
24 empanada pastry rounds
1 egg, lightly beaten

Steps:

  • Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until barely tender, about 8 minutes. Drain. Once cool enough to handle, peel and cut into cubes. Set aside.
  • Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet and cook onion and spring onions until softened, about 5 minutes. Add bell pepper and cook for 3 minutes. Add ground beef. Cook and stir until beef is browned, about 5 minutes. Season with paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt.
  • Remove beef mixture from heat, add potatoes and olives, and mix well. Stir in chopped hard-boiled eggs and set filling aside to cool, about 20 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil and lightly grease with olive oil.
  • Place an empanada pastry round on a flat surface and lightly wet edges with warm water. Put a large tablespoon of cooled filling in the center and fold pastry over. Seal edges by pressing with a fork. Repeat with remaining rounds and filling. Transfer empanadas to the prepared baking sheets and brush with beaten egg.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 392.9 calories, Carbohydrate 51.5 g, Cholesterol 68.5 mg, Fat 15.2 g, Fiber 4.1 g, Protein 15.1 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Sodium 500.9 mg, Sugar 2.5 g

Tips:

  • Make sure the butter is cold and cut into small pieces. This will help to create a flaky crust.
  • Work the dough quickly and do not overwork it. Overworking the dough will make it tough.
  • Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out. This will help to prevent the dough from shrinking in the oven.
  • When rolling out the dough, use a light touch and roll it out evenly. Do not press down too hard or the dough will become tough.
  • If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour. If the dough is too dry, add a little more water.
  • When filling the empanadas, do not overfill them. Too much filling will make the empanadas difficult to seal and they may burst open in the oven.
  • To seal the empanadas, fold the dough over the filling and press the edges together with a fork. Make sure the edges are sealed tightly to prevent the filling from leaking out.
  • Brush the empanadas with egg wash before baking. This will help to give them a golden brown color.
  • Bake the empanadas in a preheated oven until they are golden brown and the filling is cooked through.

Conclusion:

Making authentic empanada pastry dough is not difficult, but it does take some time and effort. However, the results are worth it. Empanadas are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. You can serve them as an appetizer, a main course, or a snack. They are also perfect for parties and potlucks. So next time you are looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give empanadas a try. You won't be disappointed.

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