Empanadas

Empanadas are delicious pastries that are folded and sealed around a tasty filling. They are popular in many Spanish-speaking countries, especially in Latin America and Spain. Empanadas can be baked or fried and are filled with all kinds of ingredients. They are a perfect handheld food that is easy to eat on the go.

What Is Inside an Empanada

Empanadas can be filled with almost anything. In Argentina, they are often filled with seasoned ground beef, onions, and hard-boiled eggs. In Chile, empanadas might have cheese or seafood inside. Some empanadas are filled with chicken, ham, or vegetables. Sweet empanadas can have fillings like fruit, chocolate, or dulce de leche, a sweet caramel.

Empanadas Around the World

Many countries have their own version of empanadas. In Argentina, empanadas are a national food and every region has its own style. In Colombia, empanadas are made with corn dough and fried until crispy. Spain has large empanadas that are sliced like a pie. The Philippines has a sweet empanada filled with winter melon. Even parts of Asia and Africa have similar stuffed pastries.

Fun Facts

• The word empanada comes from the Spanish word "empanar," which means to wrap in bread.
• In Argentina, there are empanada festivals where people compete to make the best ones.
• Empanadas have been made in Spain since the Middle Ages.

Did You Know?

A cookbook from 1520 in Spain contains one of the earliest written recipes for empanadas!