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Healthy Tuna Empanadas "Empanadas de Atún"

Easy Tuna Empanadas

Camila Benitez
For today's post, I have a delicious oven-baked Tuna Empanadas recipe. Why Tuna? Well, because my family loves tuna, and so do I. Canned Tuna is a pantry staple in my house; if you open up the pantry door, the first thing you’ll find is a stack of cans on the shelf right next to the cans of sardines.😁
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5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Paraguayan
Servings 24 Tuna Empanadas

Ingredients
  

  • 18 Homemade Empanada Shell, or use Store-bought, such as Goya puff pastry dough for turnovers. (I use this homemade Whole Wheat Empanadas Shell).
  • 2 (6 oz.) cans premium quality firm tuna, drained
  • 1 large onion , finely chopped
  • 1 bunch scallions , finely chopped *(separate the white part from the green)
  • 1 poblano pepper or red bell pepper , finely chopped
  • 2 fresh garlic , finely minced
  • 2 Roma tomatoes , grated
  • 8 Green olives o black olives , sliced
  • 8 smoked dried tomatoes , chopped
  • 3 Hard-boiled eggs , chopped
  • Extra virgin olive oil , as needed
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Kosher salt , to taste
  • 1 egg yolk lightly beaten with a pinch of sugar and a pinch of kosher salt for brushing

Instructions
 

How to Make Empanada Dough

  • Make the 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 eggs in a pot of water on the stovetop with at least an inch of water covering the eggs. Simmer the eggs. Turn on the heat and bring the water to a rolling boil. Simmer the eggs in boiling water for fifteen minutes to get firm whites and egg yolks.
  • Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs from the pot and place them in an ice bath in a large bowl. Cooling the eggs in cold water will halt the cooking process and make handling the eggs easier when peeling.
  • When the eggs are completely cool to room temperature—about fifteen minutes—gently tap the egg on the counter or table to crack the peel. Tap the top end of the egg and the bottom end before tapping the egg's sides to break up the eggshell.
  • Carefully peel the egg, starting from the wide bottom end of the egg to break the air pocket between the egg and the shell. Then, gently peel off the shell to avoid breaking the egg whites. Pat, dry with a paper towel, and places them into a bowl. Using a fork, mince the eggs, cover with plastic wrap, and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

How to Make Tuna Filling

  • Before starting with the filling, let the dried tomatoes soak in warm water for 30 minutes until soft and pliable; drain, pat them dry, and finely chopped. Carefully grate the fresh tomato and discard the skin; set aside.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, pepper, garlic, and white part of the scallions, season with salt, and cook until soft and translucent, 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Add the grated tomato and sliced olives and saute for 5  minutes to eliminate any excess liquid; the mixture should be moist but not runny. Add the canned tuna, paprika, oregano, red pepper flakes, and cumin. Add the finely chopped dried tomatoes and the green part from the scallions and mix well. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Cook for a few seconds, then turn off the heat.
  • Mix in the minced eggs, then transfer to a large bowl. Let it cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

How to Assemble

  • Position 2 racks in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment.
  • Spoon 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 fold the dough over and press the edges together to seal and create a half-moon shape.
  • Pleat the edges or crimp with a fork, removing any air pockets as you go. Repeat with the remaining rounds and filling. Let the empanadas rest in the fridge until you're ready to bake.

How to Bake

  • In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg yolk (do not beat until ready to bake) with 1 tablespoon of heavy cream, whole milk, or water, and a pinch of salt and sugar.
  • Lightly brush the top of the Tuna empanadas with the egg mixture.
  • Bake the tuna empanadas in the oven for about 20-25 minutes, until golden on top. Serve the tuna empanadas warm with chimichurri sauce and a side of yucca, if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

How to Store & Reheat 
To store: Allow them to cool to room temperature, then place them in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you want to store them for longer, you can freeze them for up to 2-3 months.
To reheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the empanadas on a baking sheet and heat in the oven for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat them in a microwave, but this may result in a softer texture. Place the empanadas on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until heated through. Let them cool for a few minutes before eating as they will be hot.
Make-Ahead
Tuna Empanadas can be made and stored in the refrigerator or freezer until you're ready to bake them. To make them ahead of time, prepare the empanada dough and filling as directed in the recipe. Once the empanadas are assembled, you can wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. If you want to store them longer, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. When you're ready to bake, brush the empanadas with egg wash and bake them as directed in the recipe, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time if needed. 
How to Freeze
Make the tuna empanadas as directed in the recipe. As soon as the empanadas are finished, place them side by side on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; make sure they don't touch one another. If they do, the empanadas will freeze together and become difficult to separate without damaging the crust. Freeze them for 4 to 6 hours or until solid.
Then transfer the empanadas to freezer-safe containers or bags and press out as much air as possible. Label them with the empanadas' date, quantity, and flavor. Eat the tuna empanadas within 1 month of the date of freezing.
  • To Bake:  Pre-heat the oven to 425°F. Place frozen tuna empanadas on an oven-safe baking sheet lined with parchment paper at a distance of one inch from each other. Place the baking sheet on the center oven rack for best results. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the dough turns golden brown or the internal temperature of 165 degrees F). Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
  • To fry: Thaw the tuna empanadas overnight in the refrigerator before frying. 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; be very careful since the thermal change can cause the oil to splatter. Adjust the heat as needed. Transfer to the paper towels to drain. 
Nutrition Facts
Easy Tuna Empanadas
Amount per Serving
Calories
36
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.4
g
3
%
Trans Fat
 
0
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Cholesterol
 
37
mg
12
%
Sodium
 
66
mg
3
%
Potassium
 
93
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
2
g
1
%
Fiber
 
0.5
g
2
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
4
g
8
%
Vitamin A
 
305
IU
6
%
Vitamin C
 
8
mg
10
%
Calcium
 
13
mg
1
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* 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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