The name empanada comes from the Spanish verb empanar, meaning “wrapped in bread.” These savory stuffed dough dumplings date to 14th-century Galicia in northwestern Spain. In contemporary Galicia and Portugal, empanadas are made similar to large pies and are served cut in pieces. They also often contain tuna or sardines. Spanish and Galician immigrants to Latin America and the Philippines brought empanadas across the Atlantic, and they are popular in areas of the contemporary United States with large Hispanic populations, including urban areas of New York and New Jersey, as well as in the states of Florida, Texas, and California. Empanadas in the United States are usually bite-size fried dumplings with spiced meat filling.
Recipe Servings: 6
Ingredients
Dough:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for the work surface
- 1 Tbsp baking powder
- 2 tsp sugar
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup lard or shortening
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup chicken stock
Filling:
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 Tbsp garlic salt
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp vinegar
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp seasoned salt
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- Oil or shortening, as needed for frying
Aioli Dip:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp adobo sauce
- ½ lime, juiced
Directions
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.
- Cut in the lard or shortening using a pastry cutter or fork until the texture of the mixture is similar to that of coarse cornmeal.
- Beat the eggs in a bowl and then add the stock, whisking to combine.
- Add the egg mixture to the flour and lard mixture, kneading until the dough forms.
- Cover the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes while the filling is being prepared.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Fry the ground beef until cooked completely, seasoning with the garlic salt. Drain and set aside.
- Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the same skillet.
- Add the tomato paste, vinegar, cumin, chili powder, oregano, seasoned salt, garlic, bell peppers, and onions, and cook for about 8–10 minutes, until the vegetables have softened.
- Add the beef and cook over low heat for an additional 5 minutes, until the consistency of the mixture is moist but not overly wet.
- Flour a work surface and roll out the chilled dough to ¼ inch thick.
- Cut out 4–6-inch rounds.
- Add a spoonful of meat filling to each round, fold in half to enclose, and use a fork to press and seal the edges.
- In a deep fryer, heat oil to 350̈°F.
- Fry the empanadas for 6–7 minutes each, until golden-brown.
- Stir together the mayonnaise, adobo sauce, and lime juice in a medium bowl.
For Dough:
For Filling (prepare while dough chills):
For Aioli Dipping Sauce:
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