Empanadas have been a beloved dish around the world for centuries, and have become an especially popular food choice in Latin American countries. The origin of empanadas can be traced back to medieval times, when they were served as a way to wrap up food so that it could be easily transported. This tradition has continued to this day, with different countries and cultures making their own individual variations.
In Latin America, empanadas are typically made with a doughy casing filled with various savory ingredients. The dough is usually made from flour, eggs, water, and salt, and is then filled with a variety of meats, vegetables, and cheeses. Empanadas can be either fried or baked, depending on the recipe and preference.
In Argentina, empanadas are especially popular, and are known for their wide variety of fillings. The most common fillings include beef, chicken, ham, and cheese. Argentina also has a variety of spicy empanadas, such as the famous “empanada de carne picante”, or spicy beef empanada.
For those wanting to try their hand at making empanadas at home, here is a recipe for shredded chicken empanadas. This recipe will yield about 4 servings.
Empanada Recipe Ingredients:
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons of salt
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- ½ cup of butter, melted
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup of ice water
- 2 cups of cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 cup of grated cheese
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon of cumin
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
Kitchen Equipment:
- Bowl
- Rolling pin
- Baking sheet
- Fork
Cooking Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Add the melted butter and mix until the mixture resembles a crumbly texture.
- Add the egg and mix until the mixture is combined.
- Slowly add the ice water and mix until a soft dough forms.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out until it is about ⅛ of an inch thick.
- Cut the dough into 4-inch circles.
- In a bowl, combine the chicken, cheese, onion, and cumin.
- Place one tablespoon of the mixture onto each circle of dough.
- Moisten the edges of the dough with a little water and fold the dough in half, pressing the edges together to seal.
- Place the empanadas onto a greased baking sheet.
- Brush the empanadas with the olive oil and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
To make the empanadas spicy, you can add some hot sauce to the filling mixture or use a spicy cheese instead of regular cheese. You can also serve the empanadas with a spicy salsa or hot sauce on the side. Enjoy!
Looking for other latin meals? Try out these cheesy beef birria tacos.