Easy to Make Mouth-Watering Puerto Rican Empanada Recipe
Ranked #2,300 in Food & Cooking, #45,620 overall
Follow my recipe to share these easy empanadas with your loved ones and create long lasting memories
Please read below as I will share a list of step by step instructions alongside pictures illustrating how to prepare your empanadas by hand. Also find which spices and items you will need and where to purchase your ingredients. Please note if you are able to make substitutes for certain items I would advise trying it.
Empanadas can be made so many different ways but the types I will be recommending on this site are ground beef, cheddar cheese and ground beef pepper jack cheese. You can also try using vegetable substitutes for vegetarians and learn how to make VEGAN EMPANADAS.
Please note this recipe will make approximately 20 empanadas*
Find my link below to my other puerto rican food site, featuring complimenting recipes.
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Items You Will Need
Please note that you may not need all of these but they make it easier with less clean-up and better taste
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Deep Fryer - used to cook the empanadas
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Large spoon with holes: usually comes with the deep fryer
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Dish with papertowels placed on top- to soak up the oil
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A serving tray or cookie sheet- to serve your empanadas
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Frying pan- to cook the ground beef
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Wooden spoon - to mix
Deep Fryer
Where can I get one?
Presto 05420 FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer
Amazon Price: $24.44 (as of 05/26/2012)
Deep friers create delicious empanadas and adds fun to frying
More Deep Fryers
From inexpensive to more valuble
“Now, let's start cooking!”
Beef Empanadas are Delish! First Prepare the Ground Beef
Pre-heat frying pan on medium heat
Saute the ground beef (about 2lbs) in a large frying pan. Season with a teaspoon of adobo, a pinch of salt and half a teaspoon of pepper.
Photographer: Jewel River
Tomato sauce for moistness
While the meat is still browning add a quarter of a cup of tomato sauce.
Photographer: Jewel River
Now it's time for the essential ingredient: Empanada Wrappers
Flour empanada dough
These flour discs will appear in a pack usually located in the freezer section of your grocery store. Seperate them individually and place on a flat surface.
Photographer: Jewel River
Combine the beef with the Empanada Wrapper
Once the meat has browned proceed to spoon it onto the dough
Add a tablespoon of brown beef to the middle of the flour disc. Push the beef with your spoon to ly in a flat line along the middle of the empanada.
Photographer: Jewel River
Cheese Empanada: Add Cheese and Smile!
Pico!
Combine some pepperjack cheese with the meat for an added kick.
Photographer: Jewel River
What if I don't like ground beef empanadas?
Why not try a cheddar empanada - Vegetarian Option (See my veggie empanada videos below)
Sprinkle about a quarter cup of grated cheddar cheese and omit the ground beef.
Photographer: Jewel River
Fold the empanada dough like a clam
Fold it in 1/2 with the cheese or meat in the middle
Check the flaps and face them towards you and confirm that the middle with the meat and/or cheese is opposite you.
Photographer: Jewel River
Snap it closed
Grab a long metal fork
Use a fork to make indentations on the flaps facing you. Push the fork down into both open flaps of the flour disc to snap it closed then set it to the side.
Photographer: Jewel River
Fry Baby Fry
Now it's time to use my favorite the Deep Fryer
Pour enough oil to the deep fryer so that the empanada will be submerged but no more than that. I would heat it to about 400 (this may vary with other deep fryers.)
Photographer: Jewel River
Bubble Bubble
Allow the oil to start boil
Once the oil starts really bubbling then it is time to start cooking the empanadas.
Photographer: Jewel River
"Holy Empanadas"
Here is an illustration of the type of spoon you will need
Double check that in addition to the holes on the spoon; confirm that it is also big enough to cradle the empanada into the deep fryer; this will also eliminate any accidents.
Photographer: Jewel River
Give it a nice Tan
Brown the empanada on both sides
When you notice it turning slightly brown flip it over. Then when it appears to have browned on both sides quickly remove it and place it on your large dish with about two paper towels on top to soak up the oil. Repeat cooking all the empanadas into the deep fryer.
Photographer: Jewel River
Wala!
You have now created your empanadas
Arrange them on a nice serving dish once they have cooled. You can also use a cookie sheet and seperate the cheese empanadas on one side and the beef on another side to organize them. Buen Provecho! Enjoy!
Photographer: Jewel River
Photos are the property of Jewel River
Photographer: Jewel River for all photos illustrating the 10 steps for cooking empanadas on this site
Do you want to make these spicy?
Vegetarian Empanada Recipes
Find Vegan Empanada
Learn to Speak Spanish!
Become familiar with some spanish references to empanadas
Definition of Empanadas:
Flour disc tortillas stuffed with usually seasoned meat and cheese and fried to delectable perfection.
Spanish to English Definition
Empanadas Carne: Meat Empanadas
Empanadas Fritas: Fried Empanadas
Relleno Empanadas: Stuffed Empanadas
Empanadas de queso: Cheese Empanadas
Tapas de Empanadas: Empanada Appetizers
Pico: Spicy
Drink a Malta
Non-Alcoholic Puerto Rican drink
Goya Malta, 12-Ounce Bottle (Pack of 3)
Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 05/26/2012)
Malta looks like beer and is often mistaken for it but it tastes very different. It has a carbonated malt cornsyrup taste.
Interesting Links
Feel Free to Add to this list
- Instructions on how to Make Purchases from my Sites
- Receive step by step instructions on how to make purchases on my sites. Also ask any questions that you may have.about my squidoo. http://I don't know how to make purchases...HELP!
- Uwillfind
- Do you have a page that you want to submit to a free website directory... then this is what you're been waiting for! http://Add URL & Submit Site to Free Website Directory
Let's Hear from your Tastebuds?
Having Trouble Finding the Empanada Discs?
Empanada Wrapper Amazon options
Why not try an empanada maker?
Did you enjoy this recipe?
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
Not a chef huh?
Well then you don't have to miss out!
Beef Empanada Appetizers - Frozen - 100 Per Case
Amazon Price: $71.03 (as of 05/26/2012)
Veggie Empanadas for the cooking impaired
Vegetable Empanada Appetizers - Frozen - 100 Per Case
Amazon Price: $61.55 (as of 05/26/2012)
You shouldn't have to miss out on the buzz!
Do you have another recipe you would like to share?
I'm anxious to hear your feedback
Thank you for your comments! :)
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aquarian_insight
Apr 14, 2012 @ 10:05 am | delete
- I love empanadas but I have never tried to make them - maybe now I will. Thank you for this wonderful lenses.
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KonaGirl
Feb 26, 2012 @ 8:59 am | delete
- Another great Puerto Rican cooking lesson! I always make my own pastrywhen I make empanadas. It is kinda like making Mexican tortillas; flour, salt, water and lard. My filling is spicier too; Mexican Oaxacan style rather than Puerto Rican style and I add onions and garlic to the beef when cooking it. Good job on the lens creation! *Squid Angel Blessed* and added to My Squid Angel Blessings 2012 in the "Food & Cooking » Regional Foods » Latin American Food" neighborhood.
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best vegetarian fast food
Jan 17, 2012 @ 12:37 am | delete
- Dimple Restaurant is one of the few dinner places providing Best Vegetarian Fast Food to New Jersey people that display awesome in preference.
best vegetarian fast food
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TheGourmetCoffeeGuy Oct 2, 2011 @ 4:33 pm | delete
- Very cool lens and picked up tips for our next empanadas. Thank you for sharing your insights. Enjoyed your lens.
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LinkCollection
Sep 11, 2011 @ 12:35 am | delete
- you made this look so easy hahaha and they look good too... I love empanadas, specially with "chapin" or "crab" mmmmmmm
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aesta1
Sep 6, 2011 @ 10:12 pm | delete
- Love empanadas. I grew up eating these constantly so now I hanker for it as I have not had these for years.
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Khaleeka
Jul 7, 2011 @ 10:47 pm | delete
- OMG! You just gave me a flashback to when I was in "sexto" in Ecuador! My favorite recess snack was epenadas de queso (fresco) with a little sugar sprinkled on top. =)
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lissame73
Mar 19, 2011 @ 2:11 am | delete
- empanadas yumm. I want one now. thanks for a great lens Makes me hungry
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JoshK47
Mar 7, 2011 @ 10:39 pm | delete
- I love empanadas - these look delicious! Thanks for sharing these instructions. :)
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whitemoss
Mar 4, 2011 @ 10:52 am | delete
- A great lens with lots of original content. Blessed by the Regional foods angel! I'll add it to my Best Regional foods lens too.
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JewelRiver Mar 5, 2011 @ 9:50 pm | delete
- Thank you!!! That is awesome!
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nuestraherencia
Feb 24, 2011 @ 1:24 pm | delete
- Great lens!
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- Many thanks for all of your comments and blessings! Deeply appreciated. :) Please let me know how your empanadas turned out. If you have any suggestions as to other types of empanadas you would like to see featured please let me know.
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daria369
Jan 21, 2011 @ 11:26 am | delete
- Great lens and empanadas look yummy!! :)
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tembrooke Dec 31, 2010 @ 5:51 pm | delete
- Great lens! Blessed.
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clouda9
Dec 12, 2010 @ 5:58 pm | delete
- Loving the way you walk us through how to make empanadas...a delish dish I'd love to make right here at home....and I'd definitely be spicing mine up a notch or ten :)
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Pastiche
Dec 8, 2010 @ 10:37 am | delete
- My favorite fast Saturday lunch at the Rutland Farmers Market is a delicious hand made veggie empanada - now with your recipes I can make some at home when the market's not open!
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CCGAL Nov 24, 2010 @ 8:53 pm | delete
- We love empanadas - my personal favorite is pineapple. I was surprised by the frozen empanada wrappers ... I've always just made my own dough, and it never occurred to me I could buy it already rolled and shaped. That would make a much prettier empanada, because mine are always kinda ugly.
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ashroc
Sep 11, 2010 @ 6:55 am | delete
- emanadas are very yummy!
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Treasures-By-Brenda
Aug 29, 2010 @ 3:39 pm | delete
- Came back to say I've added your lens to the Culinary Favorites From A to Z group under 'beef.'
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MiaBellezza
Jul 29, 2010 @ 6:28 am | delete
- I've never had an Empanada either. They look delish and great lens!
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Treasures-By-Brenda
Jul 26, 2010 @ 2:27 pm | delete
- I've never had an Empanada. They look very tasty!
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LoKackl
Apr 23, 2010 @ 9:15 am | delete
- Can't wait to make empanadas!! Thanks for such a great how-to lens. SquidAngel blessed!
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Portable_eBay
Apr 23, 2010 @ 5:49 am | delete
- Yummy!!! The fillings are great by themselves.
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skiesgreen
Apr 18, 2010 @ 10:40 pm | delete
- Great lens and well balanced with much flavor and spice. Blessed and featured on Sprinkled with Stardust
Norma
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Empanada Joetwit
Apr 18, 2010 @ 4:34 pm | delete
- Absolutely delicious, better than my mother used to make.
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Yvette River
Apr 13, 2010 @ 9:23 pm | delete
- These are my favorite. I love your site. Keep it coming!!!!
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LaraineRose
Apr 11, 2010 @ 8:19 pm | delete
- Mmmm, I'm a foody and I, for shame, have never tried making empanadas. I must mend that error. Tomorrow I'll get all the ingredients together and we'll have empanadas for dinner. I can hardly wait! 5*s and favorite.
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d-artist Mar 28, 2010 @ 8:14 pm | delete
- I love empanadas, my mother-in-law use to make it. I never have made them, however I have made Russian Pirozhki, and it's just like it...guess all countries have their version...5* lens
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Kylyssa
Mar 24, 2010 @ 4:17 pm | delete
- I think I got slobber on my keyboard. Great recipe and instructions!
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Tipi
Mar 20, 2010 @ 1:24 pm | delete
- Looks so yummy. I'm going to have to try this one of these days. Thank you for sharing.
Cool! 5 Stars...
Susie
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4U2C Mar 16, 2010 @ 8:34 am | delete
- No recipe to share, but great article, and I think my husband might really appreciate it, if I broke my normal "whole foods, all natural, no white anything, and avoid-deep-fried-foods" routine, and made some! Easy-to-follow instructions here, even for a novice! 5*
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eclecticeducation
Mar 13, 2010 @ 1:12 pm | delete
- They sound really yummy!!! I'll have to try them sometime. Blessed by an Angel.
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- Thank you so much! Muchas gracias!
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papawu
Mar 13, 2010 @ 12:49 am | delete
- I definitely love my Latin flavored foods and empanadas are certainly among my favorites. I believe they are of Spanish and Portuguese origin but they of course made and enjoyed all through Latin America. Great stuff.
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provi
Mar 12, 2010 @ 8:12 pm | delete
- I tried these they came out delicious .
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ariding
Mar 12, 2010 @ 11:15 am | delete
- It's been a long time since I've had an empanada, now I'm hungry. The ones I had were made of cornflour though. Really good food!
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JaguarJulie Mar 9, 2010 @ 6:59 am | delete
- It's been many years since we vacationed in Puerto Rico. Wow, now that was a vacation and too bad I wasn't a Squidoo lensmaster back then or I would have done a bang up lens on this beautiful country, the people, the scenery, and the food. Love empanadas!
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AnSa
Mar 7, 2010 @ 11:32 pm | delete
- MmmMmmm, it looks so deliciously. I am going to try this at home ;) 5 stars from me
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Jack2205
Mar 7, 2010 @ 11:18 pm | delete
- I also love recipe lenses and I love all of the different empanadas that I have tried. Excellent lens.
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garyr_h
Mar 7, 2010 @ 9:00 pm | delete
- Those look delicious. Right after seeing this my stomach growled. Thanks a lot! :-P
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WritingAdventurist
Mar 5, 2010 @ 10:08 pm | delete
- I love pages and lenses about food. These look great, I just need to look into where I can get the dough.
Keep up the great work.
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- I added a section below in reference to your question and also under the flour empanada dough module. Thank you for bringing this to my attention so that I can further inform my readers.
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If you like this site.. take a look at my lensography.
Check This Out
Find Links to My Other Puerto Rican Recipe Lenses
Buen Provecho!
Image title: Lady from Champagne Ad
Source: Scribner, Charles (Ed.): "Scribner's Magazine 1903 No. 11" (1903)
by JewelRiver
Who am I? I am a squidoo writer who has created the lenses (WEBSITES). I am many things including an artist who fulfills my passion for the arts in the... more »
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