We eat a lot of empanadas at home, and this Paraguayan-inspired fried empanada is one of our favorite dishes! This Empanada (besides being delicious) is simple to make and requires only a few pantry ingredients.
The filling consists of shredded beef, spices, and vegetables; chopped hard-boiled eggs are also in the meat mixture.
These empanadas are also juicier than most other varieties because they include a good amount of onion in the mix; the onion keeps the meat filling moist. The filling is enclosed in dough consisting of all-purpose flour, butter, water, and salt.
Finally, these empanadas are deep-fried in hot oil until golden brown. Pair with this Mango Habanero Sauce for a sweet, savory, and spicy contrast.
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🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need
- Flour: Forms the base of the dough, providing structure and texture for the empanada shell.
- Unsalted Butter (softened): Adds richness and flakiness to the dough, making it tender and flavorful.
- Cold Water: Hydrates the dough and helps bind the ingredients together.
- Eggs (for hard-boiled): Minced eggs add richness and texture to the filling, making it heartier.
- Ground Beef: The main protein of the filling, providing a savory base.
- Olive Oil: Used to sauté the beef and vegetables, adding flavor and helping to cook the ingredients evenly.
- Beef Bouillon: Intensifies the beef flavor in the filling, making it more savory and robust.
- Garlic: Gives the filling a punch of flavor, adding complexity and richness.
- Paprika: Enhances color and flavor, adding a smoky sweetness to the filling.
- Scallions (white and green parts separated): The white parts provide a mild onion flavor, while the green parts add freshness to the filling.
- Onions: Bring sweetness and a savory depth to the filling when cooked down.
- Bell Peppers: Add texture, color, and a slightly sweet flavor to balance the savory filling.
- Parsley: Brightens the filling with a fresh, herby note.
- Peanut Oil (for frying): Has a high smoke point, making it ideal for frying the empanadas to golden brown crispiness without burning.
See recipe card for quantities.
👩🍳 How to Make Empanadas
Note: Full instructions are provided in the recipe card below.
- Make the Dough: In a stand mixer with a dough hook, mix flour, butter, sugar, and salt. Add cold water and knead until a soft dough forms (7-10 minutes). Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for 4 hours or overnight. Roll it out to ⅛ inch thickness, cut into circles, and chill.
- Prepare Hard Boiled Eggs: Boil eggs for 10 minutes, cool in ice water, peel, and mince. Set aside in the fridge.
- Make the Filling: Sauté beef with bouillon, pepper, and garlic until browned. Simmer for 1 hour. Add scallions, onions, and peppers, and cook until soft. Shred the mixture and stir in the minced eggs. Let it cool.
- Assemble the Empanadas: Place filling in the center of each dough round, moisten the edges, fold into a half-moon, and crimp with a fork. Chill before frying.
- Fry the Empanadas: Heat oil to 350°F. Fry 2-3 empanadas at a time until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Serve the empanadas hot with salsa, chimichurri, or hot sauce. They’re great on their own, paired with a light salad, or tucked between a bolillo bread for a heartier sandwich de empanada, Paraguayan style.
🫙Storage, Make Ahead, & Freezing
- Storage: Store cooked empanadas in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until warmed through.
- Make Ahead: You can prep the empanadas ahead of time and store them in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
- Freezing: Freeze unbaked empanadas on a parchment-lined baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. They can be frozen for up to 3 months—no need to thaw before frying.
📝 Camila's Tips & Variations
- Chill the Dough: Letting the dough rest in the fridge helps it firm up, making it easier to roll out and shape.
- Don’t Overfill: Avoid overstuffing the empanadas to prevent them from bursting open while frying.
- Cool the Filling Completely: Ensure the filling is fully cooled before assembling to keep the dough from becoming soggy.
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📖 Recipe
Easy Empanadas
We eat a lot of Empanadas in our home, and this Paraguayan Inspired fried empanada is one of our favorite ones! This Empanada (besides being delicious) is simple to make and requires only a few pantry ingredients.
Tools
Ingredients
For the Empanada Filling
- 1 kg (2.2 lbs) boneless Beef Chuck, trimmed and cubed
- 3 medium yellow onion , finely diced
- 1 Poblano Pepper or green bell peppers , finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper , finely chopped
- 1 yellow or orange bell pepper , finely chopped
- 5 Garlic cloves , finely minced
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes; adjust to taste
- 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons knorr beef flavor bouillon
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin , to taste (optional)
- 1 bunch fresh Italian parsley or cilantro , finely chopped ( stem removed)
- 4 hard-boiled eggs , chopped
- Himalayan Pink Salt or kosher salt, Taste and adjust seasoning with salt if necessary.
- 1.5 liter (6 cups) Peanut oil or sunflower for frying or any neutral frying oil
For the Empanada dough:
- 1kg kg (8 Cups) All purpose flour
- 300 g ( 2 sticks plus 5 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons Pink Himalayan Salt or kosher salt
- 30 g (2 tablespoons) sugar
- 325 ml water, cold
Instructions
How to Make Empanada Dough
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, combine flour, softened butter, sugar, and salt on medium speed until thoroughly blended. With the motor running, slowly add in cold water and mix until a soft and pliable dough forms, 7 to 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a clean work surface lightly dusted with flour and kneaded one or two times, just enough to form a neat ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and set in the refrigerator for 4 hours up to overnight.
- On an un-floured flat work surface, roll out the dough into a ⅛ inch thick sheet; let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Then, cut out the disc using a 5 to 6 inches rounds cutter or saucer; depending on how large you prefer, I use a 6'' glass lid.
- Then, gather the scraps, add to the rest of the dough, and roll out another batch of circles; repeat with the rest of the scraps. Cover the discs with cling film and chill while you prepare the filling or if not used immediately, use wax or parchment paper to separate the stack and refrigerate or freeze to use later.
How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs
- Place the eggs in a saucepan in a single layer and cover them with cold water about an inch above the eggs. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, then start timing for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare a bowl of ice water. Drain the hot water, and transfer the eggs to the ice water to cool for about 10 minutes. Gently crack each egg by tapping it on the counter and peel it under running water.
- Pat the eggs dry, mince them with a fork, cover with plastic wrap, and store them in the fridge until needed.
How to Make Empanada Filling
- Heat the olive oil in a large heavy saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the beef, beef bouillon, and black pepper and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes until browned all over.
- Add the garlic and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until the beef is tender.
- Uncover and increase the heat to high, cooking for 3 to 5 minutes to reduce the liquid to a juicy but dry consistency. Add the paprika, white part of the scallions, onions, and bell peppers, and cook until soft, about 10 minutes.
- Stir in the parsley and green parts of the scallions, sautéing for another 10 minutes to eliminate any excess liquid. The mixture should be moist but not runny. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- In batches, pulse the meat mixture in a food processor or blender until coarsely shredded, being careful not to over-process it. Transfer each batch to a large mixing bowl and mix in the minced eggs. Let the filling cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
How to Assemble
- Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment; set aside. Once the beef has cooled, working quickly, so the dough doesn’t warm too much in your hands, portion about 2 spoonfuls in the middle of each empanada disc, leaving a 1-inch border around the edge; avoid reaching the edges with the filling because oiliness will prevent a good seal.
- Moisten the tip of your finger with a small amount of water and moisten the edges of the circle with your finger around half the border; then gently fold over until the edges meet to seal into a half-moon shape.
- Crimp the edges with a fork, removing any air pockets as you go. Repeat with the remaining rounds and filling. Place the empanadas in the refrigerator to chill until you are ready to fry them.
How to Fry Empanadas
- In a 2-quart pot, heat the peanut oil to 350 degrees F. Gently slip 2 to 3 empanadas at a time into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, 3 minutes per side, adjusting the heat as needed. Transfer to the paper towels to drain. Serve Hot.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
Easy Empanadas
Amount per Serving
Calories
238
% Daily Value*
Fat
12
g
18
%
Saturated Fat
6
g
38
%
Trans Fat
0.5
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
4
g
Cholesterol
58
mg
19
%
Sodium
196
mg
9
%
Potassium
175
mg
5
%
Carbohydrates
24
g
8
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
2
g
2
%
Protein
9
g
18
%
Vitamin A
577
IU
12
%
Vitamin C
12
mg
15
%
Calcium
20
mg
2
%
Iron
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
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