Description
Savory beef and cheese empanadas burst with Latin American flavors, offering a delightful culinary journey through crispy pastry pockets. Packed with seasoned ground beef and melted cheese, these handheld treats invite you to savor a perfect blend of comfort and zest.
Ingredients
Scale
Meats:
- 1 pound ground beef
Cheeses:
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Pepper Jack cheese, shredded
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeno, seeds and stem removed, diced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Additional Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) tomato sauce
- 11.6 ounces (329 grams) empanada dough (such as Goya)
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Sauté ground beef, onion, jalapeños, and seasonings in a skillet over medium heat until meat turns brown and loses its pink color.
- Incorporate minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, then drain excess grease and return meat to pan.
- Pour tomato sauce into meat mixture, stirring thoroughly, and simmer for 15 minutes to develop rich flavors.
- Whisk egg with water in a small bowl to create a smooth egg wash for later use.
- Lightly moisten empanada dough edges with water to ensure proper sealing.
- Position a layer of cheese in the center of each dough circle, followed by a generous spoonful of meat mixture and another cheese layer.
- Carefully fold dough in half, pressing edges together to create a half-moon shape.
- Secure edges by crimping with fork tines, creating a decorative and sealed border.
- Arrange empanadas on a baking sheet and generously brush with prepared egg wash.
- Preheat oven to 425°F and bake empanadas for approximately 15 minutes until they achieve a golden, crispy exterior.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Adapt the spice level by adjusting jalapeño quantity or using milder peppers like bell peppers for sensitive palates.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, leaner protein alternative.
- Experiment with different cheese varieties like queso fresco, monterey jack, or pepper jack to create unique flavor profiles.
- Freeze unbaked empanadas for quick future meals by placing them on a baking sheet, freezing until solid, then transferring to freezer bags for convenient storage.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg