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Traditional Meat Empanadas

2023-08-01

By Cooking with Maria

Spanish Cuisine

Appetizer

How to Make Perfect Empanadas with Slow Cooker, Instant Pot, and Air Fryer

Slow Cooker Empanada Filling: Perfectly Tender Meat with Rich, Melded Flavors

Use the slow cooker to cook your ground meat filling with onions, spices, and vegetables. The slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld together perfectly, creating a rich, juicy filling. Once cooked, allow the filling to cool before filling the empanada dough for easy assembly.

Instant Pot Empanada Filling: Quick and Flavorful Meat with Deep Infusion

Use the Instant Pot's "pressure cook" function to quickly cook and tenderize your ground meat filling. Sauté the meat with onions and spices in the "saute" mode, then pressure cook it for a few minutes to infuse deep flavors and ensure a tender, delicious filling that’s ready for wrapping in dough.

Air Fryer Empanadas: Golden, Crispy Crust with Minimal Oil for a Healthier Option

After assembling your empanadas, use the air fryer’s "air crisp" function to cook them to golden perfection with minimal oil. The air fryer creates a crispy, flaky crust while keeping the inside tender and flavorful, offering a healthier alternative to deep frying.

Tips and Suggestions on Meat Empanadas

Making the dough

The dough is the foundation of a good Meat Empanada, and it can be challenging to get the consistency just right. It's important to use the right amount of flour, butter, and water, and not to overwork the dough.

Filling the empanadas

The filling is another important element of Meat Empanadas and requires well-cooked and seasoned meats, such as beef or chicken. It can be challenging to get the filling just right, as it should neither be too dry nor too wet.

Sealing the empanadas

Sealing the empanadas can be one of the most challenging aspects of making them, as it can be difficult to prevent the filling from spilling out during cooking. It's important to pinch the edges of the dough together firmly and to use a fork to crimp the edges.

Cooking time

The cooking time for empanadas can vary depending on the size and thickness of the dough. It's important to cook the empanadas long enough to ensure the dough is fully cooked, but not too long that it becomes dry or hard.

Adding final touches

Adding final touches to the empanadas can elevate them from good to great. Brushing the empanadas with an egg wash before baking can give them a nice golden color, while using fresh herbs and spices to garnish the empanadas can add an extra layer of flavor.

Classic Meat Empanadas Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 package refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts)
  • 1 egg, beaten

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until softened.
  3. Add the ground beef and garlic to the skillet and cook until the beef is browned.
  4. Add the tomato paste, cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper to the skillet and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low and continue cooking for 10 minutes.
  5. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the chopped parsley.
  6. Unroll the pie crusts and use a 3-inch biscuit cutter to cut circles in the dough.
  7. Place a spoonful of the meat mixture in the center of each circle and fold the dough over to form a semi-circle.
  8. Use a fork to crimp the edges of the dough together.
  9. Place the empanadas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  10. Brush the beaten egg over the tops of the empanadas.
  11. Bake the empanadas for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Cooking Time

Preparation Time 30 min

Cook Time 45 min

Total time 1 hr 15 min

Nutrition Facts

  • Calories: 280
  • Fat: 18 g
  • Saturated Fat: 5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 18 g
  • Fiber: 1 g
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Protein: 10 g

Variations for Meat Empanadas

Pumpkin and Pork Empanadas

This version is made with a savory filling of roasted pumpkin, spiced pork, and herbs, encased in a golden, flaky pastry.

Pumpkin and Pork Empanadas

Beef and Pumpkin Empanadas

This version is made with a hearty blend of seasoned beef and sweet pumpkin, enveloped in a crispy, golden empanada shell.

Beef and pumpkin Empanadas

Chicken Empanadas

This version is made with tender, seasoned chicken mixed with sautéed onions and spices, all wrapped in a flaky, golden pastry.

Chicken, Corn and Feta Empanadas

Greek Empanadas

This version is made with a flavorful blend of spinach, feta cheese, and herbs, tucked inside a crisp, buttery empanada shell.

Greek Freak Ground Beef Empanadas

Ham and Cheese Empanadas

This version is made with savory ham and melted cheese, folded into a golden pastry and baked until perfectly crispy and delicious.

Ham and Cheese Empanadas

Rabbit Empanadas

This version is made with tender, succulent rabbit meat seasoned with aromatic spices, encased in flaky pastry for a unique, hearty treat.

Empanadillas Filled with Rabbit and Olives

Chorizo Empanadas

This version is made with spicy chorizo sausage, sautéed onions, and herbs, all wrapped in a flaky pastry for a flavor-packed bite.

Empanadas with Chorizo & Potato

Lamb Empanadas

This version is made with tender, spiced lamb, combined with fresh herbs and vegetables, all enveloped in a golden, flaky pastry.

On the Menu: Lamb Carpaccio + Rabbit Empanadas

Veal Empanadas

This version is made with succulent veal, blended with sautéed onions, garlic, and spices, all encased in a buttery, flaky crust.

Veal Empanadas

Spicy Beef Empanadas

This version is made with ground beef, infused with zesty spices and peppers, all wrapped in a crispy, golden pastry shell.

Spicy Beef Empanadas, Argentinian Recipe

Meat Empanadas Recipe Review

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