Beef Empanadas – Recipe for Delicious Pockets of Joy

Spiced ground beef and vegetables packed in the tastiest flaky crust – that’s what our homemade empanadas recipe will get you. If you need something different on your menu that will blow your mind, this is it.

These pockets of joy are everyone’s favorite party food, so if you have friends coming over – we have a solution. Or, make them for a casual movie night for just yourself; they’re just as good. 

Let’s not waste any more time and start learning how to make beef empanadas. We’ll go through the entire ingredient list and explain each step in the preparation process – from making empanada dough to spicing the beef and cooking the vegetables.

Or, if you don’t feel like making anything yourself, order empanadas at Burgermeister, Miami.

What Are Empanadas?

The savory pastries made of dough, mostly crescent-shaped and filled with multiple ingredients, are called empanadas. The fillings vary, and there is no specific rule regarding what they can include. Most recipes include items like beef, pork, chicken, tuna, and cheese, with the addition of seasoned vegetables.

Where Are Empanadas From?

Their name means “to wrap in bread” in Spanish, so understanding where empanadas come from isn’t difficult. This dish is a handheld version of traditional meat pies from Spain. 

However, the cooking process, size, and fillings vary from one Latin place to another. Still, they all include a pastry filled with tasty ingredients cooked to a perfect golden-brown color.

The recipe in this blog resembles the Argentinian version of empanadas the most. That’s because the meat pockets are baked and not fried, and the beef isn’t shredded or cubed.

Can You Make Empanadas in Advance?

The short answer is yes. Now, let’s explain how to do it.

Once assembled, put your unbaked empanadas on a tray and cover them. Once you’re ready to bake, put the tray in the oven for 40 minutes at 400 degrees F.

Don’t worry if a couple of days isn’t enough. There is a way to keep empanadas fresh even longer. Follow the same steps, but instead of putting the tray in the fridge, leave it in the freezer.

After a night in the cold, transfer the empanadas into an airtight bag and store them for up to three months.

Once you’re ready, just set them on a baking sheet and bake for about 45 minutes at 400 degrees F.

Homemade Empanadas Recipe

Ingredients

• One potato (russet if possible)
• 3/4 lbs ground beef
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 onion
• One rib of celery
• One small carrot
• Two cloves garlic
• 3/4 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup peas
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

For the Crust

• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup ice water
• 4 oz unsalted butter in cubes
• One egg
• One egg, beaten
• 1/2 tsp sea salt

Instructions

Our beef empanadas aren’t difficult to make if you have someone explaining the process. Luckily, this recipe includes all the steps you need to create the tastiest pockets of meat ever.

Step 1

We’ll start by making the empanada dough. 

First, we’ll put flour and salt into a food processor and give the mix a quick pulse. Then, add butter and iced water. Pulse the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. 

Finally, make a dough ball and cover it in plastic wrap. It will need to rest for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator. During that time, you can work on the rest of our homemade empanadas recipe.

Step 2

It’s time to make the filling. This part gives the dish its recognizable flavor, so pay close attention.

Get a medium size pot and fill it with water 3/4 full. Bring the water to a boil before adding the potato. Cut the potato into cubes beforehand. Then, let the cubes cook for about 3 minutes or until they become tender.

Step 3

While the potato is cooking, you can warm a large skillet to medium heat. Add olive oil and heat it as well. 

Then, proceed by adding ground beef, celery, onions, and carrots. Once the potatoes are finished, you can also add them to the mix. It will take about 8 minutes for the meat to brown and the vegetables to soften. 

Step 4

We said that this recipe relies on spices. So, it’s time to spice up these beef empanadas!

Add chili powder, garlic, cinnamon, cumin, and beef broth into the mix and give it another minute in the heat. It will be enough time to make the additions fragrant.

Finally, you’ll need to add peas to the empanada filling. Let them simmer over medium heat, and thoroughly mix the ingredients. Once most of the liquid is absorbed, season the filling with salt and pepper and proceed to the finishing steps.

Step 5

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. 

Step 6

Take the empanada dough out of the fridge. Divide the dough ball into ten equal pieces. You’ll need to roll each of the pieces into a thin circle. But first, lightly flour the surface to ensure nothing sticks. Each finished circle should be about 7″ wide and fit 1/3 cup of filling.

Step 7

We’ll egg wash the pastry before putting it into the heat to ensure the tastiest results.

So, combine a beaten egg with a tablespoon of water in a small bowl and brush the empanada edges with the mixture. Fold each dough piece into an empanada and press the edges with a fork. Brush more egg wash on top of each meat pocket before putting the pan in the oven.

Step 8

Bake the empanadas for 35 minutes or until you recognize the famous golden brown color of the crust.

Extra Tips for Making Empanadas

A few specific details will make a huge difference. Pay attention to our tips to ensure your empanadas always turn out amazing.

• Make sure the pockets are closed

A hard surface is necessary when making empanadas. Place the dough pieces on something hard so you can properly seal the meat pockets you’re making. Press the edges together using a fork and ensure the meat and vegetables stay inside.

• Don’t forget about the egg wash

Though it may seem unimportant, the egg wash does help. It will allow the dough to seal more effectively and give your empanadas the golden color they’re known by.

• Let the empanadas chill

Once you assemble the empanadas, give them a quick twenty in the fridge. If you aim to freeze a few you’ve made ahead, this is the time to do that.

• Have fun

Filling the pockets with meat and vegetables is the perfect time to have fun. Bring out the kids and let them help you make meat pockets. Cooking is fun, and you should enjoy making the food as much as you will eating it.

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