America is a melting pot of cultures. Immigrants from all over the globe have come to America all throughout history. With them, these people bring in culture, music, religion, and food! The empanada is a popular dish from Latin America and other similar cultures that has found its way into the hearts of Americans. When did this delicious dish come to be and how has it gotten to what it is? Let's take a look!
What Are Empanadas?
Empanadas are fried or baked pastries typically shaped like a crescent moon. There are numerous styles of empanadas to choose from these days, and even more fillings! What some people don't realize is that empanadas can be sweet or savory. Traditionally, empanadas are filled with protein such as beef, chicken, pork, tuna, seafood, etc. or other fillings like potatoes, vegetables, cheese, and more. You can occasionally find sweet empanadas that contain fruit or a dessert-like filling. Empanadas are delicious but can be challenging to make by hand. Frozen options exist in grocery stores, but we can assure you that any empanada made in a factory is not going to be authentic or delicious. It's best to get them from family, friends, or local eateries who specialize in them. Making empanadas is a true art form that requires finesse and a lot of practice to perfect.
Where Do They Come From?
Empanadas are first cited to be from Portugal and Galacia, Spain. "Empanada" comes from "empanar" which means "to wrap or coat in bread" in Spanish. The earliest mention of empanadas by name is in a 1520's cookbook in Catalan! The original empanadas resembled pies that were sliced into single pieces, but the basic concept has been the same ever since. As history progressed, Spanish colonists brought the dish with them to Latin America and the Philippines. Argentina has become world-famous for their empanadas which are widely available in Buenos Aires and across the country as fast-food options and restaurant staples. As with many recipes, that of empanadas was shared through generations and carried to many other nations. To better fit the tastes and resources of each country, adaptations were made that have led to a variety of styles.
How Have They Evolved?
It's unclear exactly when empanadas transitioned into tiny, individual pastries as opposed to the larger pie. It became obvious that this personal style was favored. Each individual pasty can be stuffed to the brim with the stuffing of your choice, and very little will fall out onto your plate. Flavor profiles have also changed, and certain types of empanadas have grown in popularity. In Argentinian history, the empanada was once known as the working man’s meal because it contained a full meal that was easy to carry to work. Empanadas have become an Argentinian staple when family parties are looking for a quick and filling meal. Restaurants throughout the country like to create unique and extravagant recipes featuring fillings you can't find elsewhere. Largely however, empanadas have stayed pretty true to their roots. So long as you get a crispy and flaky pastry stuffed with hearty fillings, you have yourself a great example of this Latin American favorite.
El Sur Empanadas is proud to bring the flavors of Argentina to California and Nevada. With multiple food trucks, a catering service, and more, we are bringing this classic to America. Order hot or frozen, choose delivery or pick-up, or stop by our trucks for a quick and delicious meal. Learn more about El Sur Empanadas at https://www.elsursf.com/. We look forward to serving you soon!
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FAQs
Empanadas were brought to Argentina by the Spanish, and each region adapted them according to their own typical produce and the preferences of their inhabitants. In fact, there is no one, single, unique recipe. They can always be found on Argentinian tables on national holidays.
What makes Argentinian empanadas different? ›
A flour-based dough (rather than maize or corn) is used to make traditional Argentine empanadas. This variety means there's an empanada for everyone! Ground beef, cubed beef, chicken, ham and cheese, ham and onion, spinach, and humita are some of the most common types of fillings.
Where in the world are the meat filled pastries known as empanadas most likely to be consumed? ›
Take Argentina, for example. Here, a typical empanada consists of a flour-based dough with various forms of meat fillings, including cubed or ground beef, ham, or chicken. You can also find hard-boiled eggs, olives, peppers, and onions folded into the mixture.
What is the difference between Spanish empanadas and Mexican empanadas? ›
When the Spanish hit the New World in the 16th century they shared their empanada recipe with the Aztecs and Maya. The Spanish recipe was made with bread dough, the Mexican recipe with corn masa dough. This is where Mexican empanada history takes over. Each region in Mexico has their own version of the empanada.
What is empanada's origin? ›
Empanadas have their origins in Galicia (Spain) and Portugal. They first appeared in Medieval Iberia during the time of the Moorish invasions. A cookbook published in Catalan in 1520 mentions empanadas filled with seafood among its recipes of Catalan, Italian, French, and Arabian food.
What are empanadas made of? ›
Empanadas are crescent-shaped, savory pastries made of dough and filled with a variety of ingredients. Empanada fillings can include anything from ground or shredded beef, chicken, pork, cheese, or vegetables, seasoned vibrantly, then baked to perfection.
What are three types of empanadas? ›
Argentine empanadas with beef, cheese, or chicken. Chilean empanadas with beef, cheese, or seafood. Mexican empanadas with spicy beef, potato, or pumpkin.
How to eat Argentine empanadas? ›
– Empanadas are finger-food if ever there was. The whole idea of an empanada is to be able to eat something with ones fingers without getting those fingers dirty or sticky. – Hold your empanada by one tip and cautiously bite off the other tip.
What country has the best empanadas? ›
Como ya sabrás, empanadas are quite common throughout Latin America. From Bolivia's salteñas to the Dominican Republic's catibias, just about every country makes their own version. Two countries, however are internationally renowned for their takes on the empanada: Colombia and Argentina.
Are empanadas healthy? ›
Empanadas are a rich source of proteins. They are a perfect combination of carbs and proteins, which makes them ideal for muscle gain and tissue repair. Empanadas are also a rich source of vitamins. They have a moderate amount of Vitamin B-6, which is essential for immunity and reducing stress.
An empanada is a type of hand pie that is usually made up of a combination of meats, vegetables, and cheese contained in a flaky dough. Though empanadas are common in Latin America and Spain, most other countries have their own version of hand pies. Samosas, turnovers, and Jamaican patties are just a few examples.
What makes empanadas unique? ›
The key to what sets empanadas apart from rest is their unique look and style. Defining characteristics include the dough being folded over the stuffing to make a half-moon shape, and they're typically rather small. Five or six bites of yumminess for most— or one or two bites if you're my dad.
What are empanadas called in English? ›
These are a few of the known names: Meat Pies (American) Empanadas (Latin/Spanish) Pastelillos (Latin/Spanish)
What country puts raisins in their empanadas? ›
The typical Chilean empanada, the baked version (“empanada de horno”), was stuffed with ground beef, olives, raisins, onions and hard-cooked egg, a mix that was seasoned with paprika and cumin.
What is the history of empanadas de pino? ›
Empanadas De Pino are the iconic food of Chile. The word, pino, is derived from the Mapuche indigenous word, pinu, which means: pieces of cooked meat. The Mapuche are the indigenous communities of Chile with roots dating back 2,000 years, to the cultures named Pitrén (100 – 1100 CE) and El Vergel (1100 – 1450 CE).
What is the difference between Argentina and Venezuela empanadas? ›
As it spread, dough variations lost the yeast, some morphing into a more pastry-style crust, cut with beef fat or butter (especially in the cattle-raising regions of Argentina), while others lost the wheat flour entirely: empanadas in Venezuela and Colombia are made with corn flour, and in Caribbean countries, yuca or ...
