Fried Empanadas

4.5
(194)
146 Reviews
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Try this easy empanada recipe for the best fried empanadas made with homemade dough. The ground beef, raisin, and hard-cooked egg filling makes this recipe extra delicious.

Submitted by CNCOOK
Updated on May 12, 2023
Tested by
Allrecipes Test Kitchen
Tested by Allrecipes Test Kitchen
The Allrecipes Test Kitchen staff are a team of culinary pros who make and vet recipes using only equipment you'd find in a home kitchen. Staff credentials vary but include training at the Culinary Institute of America; kitchen stints in fine dining restaurants; and countless hours in the test kitchen itself.
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Looking at some fried empanadas on a plate with one broken in half to reveal filling.
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Prep Time:
50 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr
Total Time:
3 hrs
Servings:
24
Yield:
2 dozen
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 24 servings

Dough:

  • 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt

  • ½ cup shortening

  • 1 ¼ cups water, or as needed

Filling:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 small onion, chopped

  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef

  • 2 tablespoons paprika

  • 1 tablespoon cumin

  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 pinch salt

  • ½ cup raisins

  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar

  • 2 large hard-cooked eggs, peeled and chopped

For Frying:

  • 1 quart oil for frying, or as needed

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    All ingredients gathered to make fried empanadas.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Make the dough: Stir flour and salt together in a medium bowl. Cut in shortening using a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

    Flour and salt stirred together in a bowl and shortening cut in using a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Use a fork to stir in water, a few tablespoons at a time, until the mixture comes together.

    Water stirred in using a fork.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Pat into a ball and flatten slightly. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

    Dough pat into a ball, slightly flattened and wrapped in plastic wrap.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Make the filling while dough is chilling: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.

    Onion cooking in a large skillet until tender.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Add beef, paprika, cumin, pepper, and salt; cook and stir until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes.

    Seasonings and beef added to skillet, cooking until browned and crumbly.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Drain excess grease, then stir in the raisins and vinegar. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

    Mixture transferred to a bowl and raisins and vinegar stirred in.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Remove dough and filling from the refrigerator. Form dough into twenty-four 2-inch balls.

    Dough formed into 2-inch balls.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  9. Stir hard-cooked eggs into filling.

    Hard-cooked eggs stirred into filling.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  10. Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C).

  11. While the oil is heating, roll one ball dough on a floured surface into a thin circle. Spoon some filling onto the center, fold dough into a half-moon shape, and press the edges with your fingers to seal. Repeat to fill and form remaining empanadas.

    Dough balls rolled into a thin circle, with filling spooned onto the center and dough folded in half, pressing edges to seal.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  12. Working in batches, fry 1 to 2 empanadas at a time in hot oil until browned, about 2 1/2 minutes per side.

    1 to 2 empanadas frying at a time, until golden-brown.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  13. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot.

    Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Editor's Note:

We have determined the nutritional value of oil for frying based on a retention value of 10% after cooking. The exact amount may vary depending on cook time and temperature, ingredient density, and the specific type of oil used.

274 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

528 Calories
46g Fat
21g Carbs
8g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 24
Calories 528
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 46g 59%
Saturated Fat 8g 38%
Cholesterol 33mg 11%
Sodium 169mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 8g 16%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 14mg 1%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 138mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.