To the novice eye, the stuffed pastry known as an empanada might look the same from country to country in South America, but there are distinct differences in each region. Most countries have a basic beef version and chicken version. Ham and cheese, potatoes, chile peppers, vegetables, seafood, hearts of palm, tropical fruits...whatever is available and popular in a particular region is usually featured in the local empanadas.
1. What are Empanadas?
Marian Blazes
Empanadas are stuffed pastries that are very popular in South America. Empanadas probably came to South America with the Spaniards, but they quickly took on their own distinctive style and flavor in the New World. South American empanadas often have a sweet dough (sometimes they are even sprinkled with powdered sugar) that is a perfect contrast to the savory filling. Read more...
2. Chicken Empanadas - Empanadas de Pollo
Marian Blazes
This is a typical chicken empanada recipe, filled with a mixture of poached chicken, sautéed onions, green olives and hard boiled eggs.
3. Empanadas de Pino - Beef Empanadas from Chile
Marian Blazes
These empanadas have a filling made from ground beef, onions, black olives, raisins, and hard boiled eggs. This particular concoction is known as "pino" in Chile, and it is found in other recipes as well, such as the Chilean corn casserole called pastel de choclo.
4. Empanadas Tucumanas - Beef Empanadas from Argentina
Marian Blazes
The Tucumán region of Argentina is well known for these empanadas, which are made with finely chopped, seasoned beef that tastes a little like pot roast.
5. Colombian-style Fried Empanadas with Beef and Potato Filling
Marian Blazes
6. Ham and Cheese Empanadas - Empanadas de Jamón y Queso
Marian Blazes
These empanadas, made with puff pastry dough instead of the traditional empanada dough, are popular in Peru. The creamy cheese filling is delicious, and using frozen puff pastry dough saves time.
7. Spinach and Cheese Empanadas
Marian Blazes
These delicious empanadas are filled with sautéed garlic spinach and a creamy cheese sauce.
8. Spinach and Ricotta Empanadas
Marian Blazes
Garlicky spinach and creamy ricotta cheese go together perfectly in these empanadas.
9. Bolivian Salteñas
Marian Blazes
These Bolivian empanadas have a slightly unique style - the braid that seals the filling inside runs across the top of the pastry, instead of along the side. The beef or chicken filling tends to be much runnier and much sweeter than most other empanadas. They're often served with a plate and a spoon, but expert salteña eaters know how to enjoy them without letting the juices run down their sleeves.
10. Empadinhas de Palmito - Brazilian Empanadas with Hearts of Palm
Marian Blazes
Brazilians have their own version of the empanada called empadas or empadinhas (little empadas). These empadinhas are filled with hearts of palm (a very common ingredient in Brazilian cooking), sautéed onions, and black olives.
