How to make Empanadas? A Dominican recipe

Have you ever heard about empanadas? If you like Mexican cuisine, you probably did. However, Dominican empanadas are slightly different from what you might know from other Spanish-speaking countries. Also, their importance is different. Here, in the Dominican Republic, empanadas are a MUST on all parties, gatherings and events. Empanadas are also a popular snack and a street food available in many places.

Empanadas are prepared with a different filling, from a different flour, shape and can be either fried or baked. When it is about the filling, it can be almost everything. Starting with a basic minced meat one, jumping to a cheese stuffing and ending on putting vegetables or seafood into them.

Emapnadito (empanada) or pastelito?

From the first description empanaditas might be wrongly named as pastelitos. While, generally speaking, the difference between them is really small, Dominicans know exactly which is which and are very precise regarding the naming. The main difference is in the shape. Actually, that is rather the only one difference. Empanaditas have a half-circle shape, and pastelitos are round. Empanaditas look a little bit like a big dumpling or a Japanese gyoza.

What is good in empanadas, is that although they originally follow some way of preparing them, there is no strict rule regarding other aspects. That said, flour and fillings might be completely different. It is all up to you and you might make some changes in that area. Of course, the final effect will not be the same as if you did it according to the traditional recipe, but still, you will get something tasty, and at least partially similar to real, local empanadas.

Empanadas variations

Pastry

if you want to experiment with the dough, choose for example another type of flour to make them healthier. Replace corn or wheat flour with buckwheat.

If you are gluten intolerant, make sure the flour you use is good for you.

Filling options for stuffing empanadas

Meat for stuffing empanadas

• Go with a traditional meat filling if you are craving for beef, pork or chicken.
• Choose meat that is allowed in your religion. Skip beef or pork or choose meat that is Kosher.
• Make empanadas with lamb or mutton, to make a difference in the taste.

Fish and seafood for stuffing empanadas

• Fill empanadas with fish chops.
• Replace a regular meat with prawns.
• Experiment with different types of seafood - prawns, octopus, mussels, squids or crab.

Dairy for stuffing empanadas

• Fill empanadas with cheese. Let it be a fresh, cottage-style or a regular one.
• Experiment with goat or sheep cheese.
• Try smoked cheese as an alternative for stuffing empanadas.
• Replace a regular milk cheese with a soy alternative.
• Stuff empanadas with matured cheese to get a stronger taste.
• Experiment with blue, Camembert or brie cheese.
• Add easy melting cheese like mozzarella.
• Fill empanadas with boiled egg cubes.
• Try stuffing empanadas with scrambled egg or omelet.

Go Vegan! – Vegetables for stuffing empanadas

• Use sweet potatoes or batatas.
• Fill empanadas with carrots, zucchini, and broccoli.
• Add spinach and garlic.
• Use plenty of onion mixed with mushrooms.
• Make a Japanese style tofu filling to replace meat or cheese.

Sweet empanadas - filling for sweet empanadas

• Use different nuts and candied fruits.
• Experiment with different jams.
• Add fresh or frozen fruits.

A traditional empanadas recipe with beef and tomato sauce

Empanadas - basic information

Preparation time: 1,5 h – 2 h

Calories per serving: +/- 2200 kcal

Servings: 16

Ingredients for the dough for empanadas:

• 2 eggs (separate yolks from whites)
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1½ tsp. baking powder
• 2 cups of selected flour

For the beef filling for empanadas:

• ½ kilo beef minced meat
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. oregano
• 2 tsp. powdered garlic
• 2 tsp. oil
• 2 cups tomato sauce

For frying empanadas:

• oil

Instructions:

1. Separate yolks from whites.
2. Take a bowl and put egg yolks into it.
3. Add oil, baking powder and salt to yolks and mix it well.
4. Add flour and once again mix it, till you get a homogenous mixture.
5. Start adding water. Do it spoon by spoon, till the moment the dough is soft and tender. However, remember to use the minimal amount of water that is needed. Usually, you should add 6-8 spoons.
6. Kneed it well – do it, till the moment you get a homogenous, elastic, and soft dough.
7. Cover the dough or use a cling-film for enrolling the dough. Leave it aside for 15 minutes.
8. Take a pastry board and sprinkle it with flour to avoid sticking the empanadas dough to it.
9. Roll the dough.
10. Divide it into 16 parts.

How to make the beef and tomato filling for empanadas – step-by-step instructions:

1. Prepare the beef filling by mixing all ingredients together (except for tomatoes).
2. Heat oil on the pan.
3. Add the meat and herbs mixture to it and fry it.
4. When the meat is ready, add the tomato sauce.
5. Fry till you get a salsa-like sauce that is dense and thick.

Final instructions for empanadas – step-by-step instructions:

1. From each of 16 dough parts, form circular-shaped, thin disks – like these used for dumplings or gyoza.
2. Put the filling on one half of the dough but keep a space to the edge.
3. Fold each of 16 parts of the dough in half, forming at the same time a half-moon shaped, big dumpling.
4. Take a big pan or pot.
5. Pour oil into it and heat it. Use as much oil as you need to obtain a relatively thick layer of oil in the lower part.
6. When oil is ready, start frying empanadas on both sides, till they get a golden color. Use as much oil as you need to avoid sticking empanadas to the frying pan. Add oil during the frying process, keeping all the time the minimal, needed level.

TIPS for preparing perfect empanadas:

1. Serve empanadas hot or at least warm, but never cold.
2. Serve them just after the frying. Do not leave them fried in the fridge.
3. If you want to store empanadas for a couple of days, prepare them, but do not fry. Fry just before you want to serve them.
4. If you want to store empanadas for a longer period of time, prepare empanadas, but do not fry. Before serving, refreeze them and fry just before you want to serve them.

 Enjoy your meal!

See related

TOP 15 Vegetarian and non-meat Turkish foods (Turkish cuisine guide)

Non-meat and fish meals in Hungary

Healthy juices not only for Vegans

Desayuno Mexicano - What to eat for a traditional Mexican breakfast?

The best Mexican coffee

Silken, hard or famous Koyasan's shimidofu?