Description
Savory ground beef empanadas bring Argentina’s rich culinary heritage to your kitchen with crispy pastry and spiced meat filling. Flaky pastry and hearty beef create a perfect handheld meal that delights with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients:
- 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 cup cold unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
- 0.33 cup cold water
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
Filling Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground beef
- 1 small onion
- 1 small red bell pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
- 0.25 cup tomato paste
- 0.25 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
- Salt
- Pepper
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- Sesame seeds (optional)
- Poppy seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, crumbling the meat until it browns completely and releases excess fat.
- Incorporate diced onion, minced garlic, and bell pepper into the meat, cooking for 3-4 minutes until vegetables become translucent and tender.
- Season the meat mixture with cumin, paprika, oregano, chili powder, salt, and pepper, then introduce tomato sauce and olives, allowing the mixture to simmer and thicken for 5 minutes.
- Heat oven to 400°F and prepare empanada dough by rolling and cutting into 4-5 inch circular shapes.
- Distribute beef filling centrally on each dough circle, folding the edges to create a crescent shape and firmly sealing the borders using a fork to crimp the edges.
- Arrange empanadas on a parchment-lined baking sheet, generously coating the exterior with beaten egg to achieve a rich, golden appearance.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes until the pastry turns a deep golden brown, indicating a perfectly crisp texture. Serve immediately with preferred dipping sauce.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and create a healthier filling without compromising flavor.
- Dice vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and balanced texture throughout the empanada mixture.
- Let the filling cool completely before assembling to prevent dough from becoming soggy and maintain crisp edges during baking.
- Try alternative protein options like ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for dietary flexibility and diverse flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 334 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg