This is a foolproof recipe for traditional Argentine Empanadas with homemade pastry. I say foolproof because I'm an Asian, and even I can whip these up and serve them to my Argentinian family (who, like anybody else, are very detailed about their home country's food), and they love it!
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My mother-in-law had tried several times to make homemade empanada pastries with no success. After she watched this video, she tried the recipe and was happy with the results! I think when I heard that, I was more excited and happier than she was.
Of course, you can adjust the filling and give it your personal touch—the way everybody likes it in your house. The recipe is so versatile and straightforward that I know this is a keeper for me.
If you love Argentine cuisine, you should try Marco's spinach ricotta pie (pascualina), milanesa steak, and spinach ricotta cannelloni. They're delicious!
More Argentine Recipes
- Tuna pionono (tuna roll cake)
- Chimichurri
- Rolled flank steak (matambre)
Video
📖 Recipe
Argentine Empanadas
Ingredients
Fillings:
- olive oil
- 1.3 lb onion (double the beef weight) (600 gr), cut into cubes
- 1 red capsicum , cut into cubes
- 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
- 1 tablespoon cumin powder
- 2 tablespoon sweet paprika
- ½ cup white wine (125 ml)
- 10.5 oz minced beef meat (300 gr)
- ¾ cup green part of spring onion , chopped
- ¾ cup green olives , roughly chopped
- ½ cup parsley , finely chopped
- 3 hard boiled eggs
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Empanada dough:
- 3.5 oz unsalted butter (100 gr), room temperature
- 1 large egg , room temperature
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 3 ¾ cups bread flour , plus 1 ½ tablespoon more (500 gr)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup warm water , plus 1 tablespoon more (150 ml)
Instructions
The filling
- Using low medium fire, heat some olive oil in a pan, add in the onion and a pinch of salt and cook for 10 minutes until they're a bit soft. Add in cubed red capsicum and continue cooking for 20-30 minutes until they're really soft, stirring frequently.
- Add in chili flakes, sweet paprika and cumin, cook for 1 minutes until the powdery taste is gone. Add in wine and cook for 30 seconds until the alchohol evaporates. Add in minced beef, salt and black pepper. Cook just until the beef is almost done. That's going to ensure juicy empanada later. Put in a container and aside to cool.
- Once cooled, add in chopped spring onion, olives, parsley and give it a good mix. Sprinkle chopped eggs on top and keep in the fridge for 2 hours before using.
The dough
- In a stand mixer bowl and using a paddle attachment, add in butter and whisk until fluffy. Add in egg and mix until well combined. Add in salt and ⅓ of flour. Whisk to combine and keep adding ⅓ of flour, mixing well to combine each time.
- Switch to dough hook. Add in oil, water and knead for 10 minutes. The dough will be crumbly at first, as if it's not going to form but have faith. It will. Push it together with your hand to help for the first 1-2 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, you'll get a nice soft pliable dough. Form it into a ball, place in a container, cover with cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for 2 hours. Take out 15 minutes earlier before using.
Making empanada
- Take out the dough and divide into 20 balls. Keep them covered with cling film while using to prevent them getting dry.
- Take one ball and roll it out with a rolling pin to a more or less hand size. Put 1 tablespoon filling on top, fold the dough. pinch the seam to seal and climp all the way around. Repeat the same for the rest of the balls. Place them on a baking tray with baking sheet.
- Bake at 200°C (400°F) in a preheated oven for 20-30 minutes or golden brown and fully cooked. Serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
The nutrition facts provided are an estimate per serving. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
Beverly Hayes says
I just made your dough recipe and it is incredible! The meat mixture wasn't exactly like yours, but pretty close. Thank you so much!
Bea says
Awesome, glad you liked it! The filling can be whatever you want, no problem at all. Thank you Beverly!
Lauren says
Hi, are you able to fry these empanadas?
Lakesia says
Can I use the same ingredients if I want to use ground chicken or no?
Bea says
Yes, you can with no problem! 🙂
Eimee says
Hi, can i fry this empanada?
Paul says
I've always loved empanadas but never made them. Had no idea how. Too much work. I gave this recipe a try since I've made many of your recipes and they turned out great. The skin dough was so easy to make. The filling was juicy. Delicious, Bea. Thank you.
Bea says
Oh hey I loved it that you tried this! Yes they are easier to make than they look, right? My Malaysian empanadas would be my baked karipap (curry puff), do check it out. Thank you Paul!
Louisa says
Bea, thank you! I really love the empanada skin recipe. It's very easy to manipulate. Our family likes it spicy so I added more chili lol! Happy New Year to you and husband! XX
Zalman Sandon says
Never made empanadas before, making them now using your recipe. Stuff is now in the refrigerator. Watching your video to see how to fold the edges, we'll see how (and if) they come out.
Wondering why empanadas aren't baked with an egg wash to make them relatively glossy.