Ah, the empanada – a flavorful, multi-purpose dish enjoyed in countries around the world. Whether you enjoy them as a snack, appetizer, or addition to a meal, the empanada offers a savory feast that easily entices the taste buds. Within this article, we will uncover the empanada’s rich history, warm flavors, and unique variations. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s take an exciting culinary journey into the delicious world of empanadas!
1. Introduction to the Empanada
Empanadas have been a beloved dish in Latin America since ancient times. The delicacy takes its name from the Spanish verb “empanar,” which means to wrap or coat in bread. Translated to English, the name translates to “bread coating” and it’s no surprise why: the doughy parcels are often stuffed with savory fillings and then fried or baked to create a delightfully crisp pastry.
But what exactly are empanadas? In their simplest form, empanadas are turnovers made from a variety of different doughs that can be cooked in two different ways. The two most common methods are either baking or frying.
- Baked empanadas are made from a flaky dough and are usually filled with a savory mixture of ingredients. The dough is usually brushed with a beaten egg or butter before baking for a delicious, golden-brown finish.
- Fried empanadas are made with a doughier dough and typically feature a corn-based filling. The dough is usually deep-fried, so the empanadas have a crispier texture than the ones made with dough baked in an oven.
Regardless of the method used to cook them, empanadas are typically filled with delicious fillings of meat, cheese, vegetables, or beans. Empanadas can be served as an appetizer, a side dish, or even as a main course. Depending on how they are served, empanadas can have sweet or savory fillings. The most popular countries that serve empanadas are Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Brazil.
The best part of making empanadas is that they can be customized to fit everyone’s individual tastes. From cheese and chicken to beef and pork, there’s something for everyone! If the traditional empanada fillings aren’t to your liking, feel free to add your own ingredients to make it completely your own.
So, if you’re looking to explore a world of savory stuffed delights, empanadas are here for you!
2. Tracing the Origins of Empanadas
Dating back to the Moorish invasions of the 8th century, empanadas have evolved over time to become the most beloved filled pastry found all across the globe. In their earliest form, they would have been no more than a flatbread filled with meat, like a basic pie. From there, they travelled through Europe and across the Atlantic Ocean, encountering new ingredients and new culinary methods and taken on new forms along the way.
Today, it is believed that the original empanada was brought to Latin America by the invading Spaniards. While some countries have adopted their own unique variations with different ingredients, these changes are often only slight. For example, some countries may add potatoes to the mix, while sauces can also vary from region to region.
A closer look at the developments of empanadas reveals how the world has shaped the dish. In Mexico, empanadas reflect both Spanish and indigenous influences, with a filling made from beef, pork, or vegetarian options, and a popular salsa to accompany. Meanwhile, in Brazil, empanadas were fused with Portuguese éclairs, becoming more of a deep-fried dessert.
In Argentina, the empanada is in its own league — the country has named it the national dish. In this iteration, the pastry is thicker with more sturdy dough, making it perfect for holding the most popular Argentine filling of beef, hard-boiled egg, green olive and red onion.
Finally, the Argentinian empanada made its way to the United States, where it was embraced as a classic on its own. Today, Americans enjoy empanadas with diverse fillings, such as chicken, pork, cheese, and vegetables.
No matter the country of origin, all empanadas are a perfect representation of how to make something truly amazing from simple ingredients. Be it for a snack, meal, or dessert, no other dish is better placed than the empanada.
3. Empanada Varieties Worldwide
Empanadas have taken many forms and have been enjoyed in numerous countries and cultures throughout the world. In some places, they are served as a snack, while in other locations they are a traditional dish that is served as an appetizer or main course.
Below is a snapshot of the wide range of empanada varieties that have become a culinary favorite around the globe.
- Argentina: Empanadas in Argentina are typically filled with spiced beef and green olives sandwiched between semi-circular pastry crusts and are often served as an appetizer.
- Brazil: Very similar to Argentine empanadas, however Brazilians tend to use more fish or seafood instead of beef fillings.
- Colombia: These empanadas boast a sweeter flavor than many other varieties. The filling is made of cheese, a mixture of ground beef and potatoes, and ripe plantains.
- Chile: Chile’s empanadas are basically the same as those found in Argentina and Brazil, but may also contain diced hard-boiled eggs or raisins.
- Venezuela: Venezuelan empanadas are made with dough fried in beef tallow and are filled with ground beef and raisins and lightly seasoned with cheese.
- Peru: A coastal twist on the dish, these empanadas contain shrimp, walnuts, Parmesan cheese and green olives.
- Bolivia: A unique combination of ground beef with peas, carrots and raisins make up these Bolivian empanadas.
- Mexico: Mexico’s version of empanadas, also known as empanadas de Picadillo, are filled with seasoned ground beef, potatoes and bell peppers.
- Puerto Rico: This savory pastry celebration is usually filled with ground beef or pork, potatoes, olives, and raisins and often served as a party dish.
- Philippines: The Filipino empanada closely resembles the Puerto Rican version, and is often filled with ground pork, sautéed vegetables, olives and raisins.
- Spain:Last but not least, the Spanish version of empanadas is known for its unique shape and special flavors that are a combination of meats, vegetables and cheeses.
In the same way empanadas have served as a global culinary delight, they have also become a popular favorite in the United States. As the predominant ethnic group in the US, Mexican empanadas have become especially popular, being filled with Mexican-style ingredients and spices to create a delectable combination.
4. Crafting the Perfect Empanada
Empanadas may look simple but crafting a perfect one is truly an art! With this knowledge in hand, you can start your journey to delighting your tastebuds with the savory stuffed pastries.
Crust
- Choose a dough based on your preference: a wheat flour pastry dough or a firm cornmeal dough.
- Decide if you want a flaky, buttery crust or an extra crispy crust.
- Let the dough rest in a warm place or cold fridge before rolling it out and shaping it.
Fillings
- Mix different vegetables, proteins and spices to create a unique and delicious filling.
- Choose the amount of fillingfilling, ensuring the empanada is not too full to seal the edges.
- Use the right amount of cheese – too much cheese will cause them to be soggy.
Sealing and Baking
- Dampen the edges of the formed empanadas with some water to help them stay closed during baking.
- Seal the edges before filling.
- Decide if you want to fry or bake the empanadas – baking will result in a crispier crust!
By keeping these steps in mind, you can rest easy knowing that you are on your way to creating the perfect empanada!
5. Dining on Delicious Empanadas
Empanadas are filled with a variety of ingredients ranging from sweet to savory and have a variety of shapes - heart-shaped, half-moon, triangular, savory, or stuffed. No matter the shape or flavor, they’re sure to tantalize your taste buds.
The first, and definitely most popular, is the traditional Chilean empanada. It has a round shape, is simple and has charquicán (a mashed potato-based Guarani dish), minced beef, onions, garlic, pepper, black olives, butter, salt and pepper. This type of empanada is often served as a starter or as a snack for lunch.
Another hearty empanada is the Argentine empanada. Its dough is similar to the Chilean empanada in texture, but can also be served as an entree. It has a variety of fillings, such as beef, chicken, ham, cheese, and eggs. Plus, its filling also often includes vegetables like onions, peppers, olives, and various seasonings.
For a sweet empanada, Brazil offers up their own variant. This version is made of a sugar-based dough, stuffed with a filling of yams, coconut, fruits, nuts, and spices. It is usually served as a dessert course.
Finally, a twist on traditional empanadas famed in Venezuela is the arepa rellena. This is a thick corn flour patty stuffed with beef, pork, cheese, and vegetables. It is a fried emotionally-shaped empanada and is considered a local favorite.
Empanadas Unveiled
- Traditional Chilean Empanada – Charquicán, minced beef, onions, garlic, pepper, black olives, butter, salt and pepper.
- Argentine Empanada – Dough similar to Chilean empanada, filled with beef, chicken, ham, cheese, eggs, vegetables and various seasonings.
- Brazilian Empanada – Sugar-based dough, stuffed with yams, coconut, fruits, nuts, spices.
- Venezuelan Arepa Rellena - Thick corn flour patty stuffed with beef, pork, cheese, vegetables.
Empanadas offer a flavorful, filling journey into savory stuffed delights. Empanadas are easily customizable, offering a variety of filling and flavor combinations that can be enjoyed by even the pickiest eater. Whether you’re in the mood for something spicy or sweet, empanadas provide a delicious way to explore the many flavors of Latin American cuisine.
6. Conclusion: Empanada Delights Unveiled
A Timeless Classic
Empanadas are an ancient delicacy, honoring craftsmanship, creativity and an abundance of flavors. As a classic dish admired all over the world, these delicacies have created “empanada cultures” with their own unique tastes and interpretations. Some regions opt for traditional corn-based dough, and others favor flour bases while experimenting with different ingredients for stuffing.
A Fanciful Twist
The world of empanadas, however, doesn’t end with traditional recipes. The contemporary world of empanadas features inventive culinary creations that are sure to tantalize any palate. From savory meats such as slow braised short ribs to sweet creations like pineapple-goat cheese and FUNfetti-filled empanadas, the possibilities are truly endless. Dessert empanadas may take center stage with their sweet surprises, but savory dishes remain a fan-favorite when it comes to empanadas.
- From traditional, authentic recipes to out-of-the-box creativity, there is something for everyone with the world of empanadas.
- You don’t have to travel far to sample the flavors of empanadas – you can make them yourself in your own kitchen! By utilizing a variety of doughs, fillings and cooking methods, you can create an empanada dish of your own.
- Empanadas are a great way to make a meal unique, impressive and shareable. Whether it’s your own innovative creation or a classic, everyone will appreciate the one-of-a-kind flavor.
The flavors of empanadas have taken the world by storm, from traditional recipes to inventive treats. As a timeless classic and vibrant cultural celebration of flavors, the possibilities with empanadas are truly endless. Now that you’ve gone on a journey of empanada delights, it’s time to take the plunge and make your own empanada adventure!
This was just the beginning of the delicious journey of empanadas. Learn about the flavors and ingredients that make empanadas so special in this deep-dive into a scrumptious treat. Prepared in a variety of countries and packed with flavor, empanadas can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even as a snack! The possibilities offered by empanadas will be sure to tantalize your taste buds and satisfy your appetite. Until next time, Bon Appetit!
