Description
Savory Beef & Cheese Empanadas blend Argentine culinary traditions with rich, comforting flavors. Golden pastry pockets encasing seasoned beef promise a delightful journey through South American cuisine you’ll surely enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef
- ½ cup shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup ice-cold water
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder (optional, for heat)
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef in a spacious skillet over medium heat, meticulously draining excess fat to create a lean, flavorful base.
- Aromatic Enhancement: Introduce finely chopped onions and minced garlic, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and release their fragrant essence, while blending cumin, smoked paprika, and optional chili powder into the mixture.
- Flavor Development: Integrate tomato paste with a splash of water, allowing the mixture to simmer and reduce, creating a rich, concentrated filling that develops deep, complex flavors for 2-3 minutes.
- Cheese Integration: Remove skillet from heat, gently fold shredded cheese into the warm beef mixture, ensuring even distribution and creating a creamy, cohesive filling that will perfectly complement the empanada pastry.
- Preparation Finalization: Let the filling cool to a workable temperature, preparing for seamless empanada assembly and ensuring optimal texture and flavor melding.
Notes
- Drain Beef Thoroughly: Remove all excess fat to prevent soggy, greasy empanadas and ensure a crisp, clean-tasting filling.
- Balance Spice Levels: Adjust chili powder carefully to suit personal heat preferences, starting with small amounts and tasting as you go.
- Cooling is Crucial: Let filling reach room temperature before adding cheese to maintain texture and prevent premature melting.
- Seal Edges Properly: Press empanada edges firmly with a fork to prevent filling from leaking during baking or frying, creating a perfect seal.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 15
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg