Spinach and Cheese Empanadas

By
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes is a freelance writer and recipe developer with a passion for South American food. She wrote a cookbook focusing on the cuisine of Brazil.
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Updated on 06/2/21
Spinach and Cheese Empanadas - Empanadas de Espinaca
Marian Blazes
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 50 mins
Servings: 20 servings

These delicious empanadas are filled with sautéed garlic spinach and a creamy cheese sauce. Make small empanadas for appetizers, or make larger ones for lunches on the go. You can use any kind of cheese in the sauce, but the combination of cheddar, Parmesan, and mozzarella works well.

The traditional shape for an empanada is a half moon, with a braided edge (called a repulgue) sealing the crust. Variations in the shape of the empanada can indicate what's inside at bakeries which produce many different flavors of the empanada. 

Ingredients

  • 20 to 24 empanada shells, store-bought or homemade

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1/4 cup onion, coarsely chopped

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 6 ounces baby spinach

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup milk

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 cup grated Cheddar, Monterey jack, or mozzarella

  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. If you're making the empanada dough, prepare it and let it chill for several hours or overnight.

  3. Preheat oven to 400 F.

  4. Sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil on low heat until onions are soft and golden, 5 to 10 minutes.

  5. Turn the heat up to medium and add the spinach. Cook, stirring, until spinach is wilted and soft, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  6. Add the flour to a saucepan. Whisk in the milk gradually until mixture is smooth.

  7. Add the butter and place over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly until mixture just comes to a boil and thickens.

  8. Remove from heat and whisk in the eggs. Return to heat and cook, stirring until mixture comes to a boil and thickens. The sauce will be very thick, like a paste.

  9. Remove from heat and stir in the cheeses. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  10. Chop the cooled spinach and onion mixture. Stir chopped spinach and onions into the cheese sauce.

  11. If using homemade dough, separate it into two balls, covering the one not used. Roll out 1/2 of the dough very to 1/4 inch thick. Cut the dough into 4 to 5-inch rounds, using a large cookie cutter, bowl, or coffee can. Knead the scraps into a ball and let the dough rest, covered, while you roll out the other half of dough. You should end up with about 20 to 24 rounds of dough, depending on the size.

  12. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons of filling in the middle of a dough round. Brush edges of the circle with water. Fold the round in half over the filling, and press down hard along the edges to seal.

  13. Starting at one end of the pressed-down edge, fold the edge towards the middle and press down. Move your fingers over 1/2 inch and fold the edge into the middle again. Continue around the sealed edge of the empanada, folding the edge over itself, to make a twisted rope effect.

  14. Bake the empanadas for 10 minutes, then turn the temperature down to 350 F and bake for 10 to 15 minutes more. The empanadas should be golden brown when done.

  15. Enjoy!

Tips

  • Store baked empanadas in the refrigerator or freezer and reheat in the microwave.
  • Unbaked empanadas can also be frozen until ready to bake.

Recipe Variations

To Make Heart-shaped Empanadas:

  1. Roll out the empanada dough, and cut 2 hearts with a 4-5 inch cookie cutter.
  2. Brush the edges of one heart lightly with water.
  3. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons filling in the center of the heart, then cover with the other heart-shaped piece of dough.
  4. Press edges together firmly, then roll edges inward, making a decorative twisted rope effect around the edge of the heart.
  5. Brush with egg and bake.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
100 Calories
6g Fat
8g Carbs
4g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 20
Amount per serving
Calories 100
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g 8%
Saturated Fat 2g 12%
Cholesterol 27mg 9%
Sodium 94mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 4g
Vitamin C 3mg 13%
Calcium 74mg 6%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 94mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)