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The appetizer, From around the world

Beef empanadas

Beef empanadas are Argentine hand pies filled with ground beef, olives, hard boiled eggs, and raisins, for 6 people. They take 45 minutes of active work and are fully shaped the day before, leaving only the baking for right before guests arrive. Difficulty is medium, about €1.90 per person, and success depends on sealing the edges well and letting the filling cool before filling the dough.

Little Argentine hand pies with spiced beef and olives, shaped the day before and baked golden right before your guests arrive.

Beef empanadas
For
6 people
Work
45 min
Total time
1 h 30
Prep
Prepared the day before
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€1.90
Calories per person
300 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

The filling blends ground beef seasoned with cumin and paprika, green olives for a briny bite, raisins for sweetness, and hard boiled eggs for softness. That sweet, salty, spiced combination gives these hand pies their character, crisp outside, tender inside. It's an Argentine classic that makes a nice change from the usual puff pastry bites.

Built as finger food to share, these empanadas work perfectly for a casual dinner party with friends or a family gathering where everyone helps themselves. They eat well with your hands, please kids and adults alike, and fit into a relaxed menu any time of year, with no seasonal limits.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before 4 steps, 1 h 15
  2. The same day Nothing to do
  3. Before the guests arrive 1 step, 20 min
  4. When it's time to serve Nothing to do

The day before, make the filling, shape all the empanadas, and keep them on their tray in the fridge, ready to bake. Right before guests arrive, brush them with egg yolk and bake for twenty minutes until golden. Serve them warm straight from the oven, they don't last long on an appetizer table.

The ingredients

6 people

Dairy

  • Shortcrust pastry or empanada discs 4
  • Hard boiled eggs 2
  • Egg yolk 1

Butcher

  • Ground beef 400 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 2

Pantry

  • Pitted green olives 80 g
  • Cuminoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Paprikaoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Raisins 30 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Gluten, Eggs, Lactose

The recipe, moment by moment

The day beforeWhat's better after resting overnight in the fridge.

  1. Cook the sliced onions in the oil, add the beef, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper, and cook for ten minutes. 20 min

    Cook the onion well before adding the beef, it brings an essential sweetness to the filling.

  2. Off the heat, stir in the olives, raisins, and chopped hard boiled eggs, then let the filling cool completely. 20 min

    A warm filling melts the dough, patience is essential here.

  3. Cut out pastry discs, fill each with a spoonful of filling, fold over, and crimp the edges with your fingers or a fork. 30 min

    Don't overfill, the filling may leak out during baking.

  4. Arrange the empanadas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and keep them chilled. 5 min

    Let them chill on the tray itself, you'll be able to bake them without moving them.

Before the guests arriveThe last hour, right before the doorbell rings.

  1. Brush the pastries with egg yolk and bake at 200 degrees until golden. 20 min

    Rotate the tray halfway through baking, ovens rarely brown evenly.

Our tips to get it right

  • Chop the hard boiled eggs and olives finely so the filling distributes evenly inside each pastry without tearing the dough.
  • If the dough softens while you're shaping, chill it for a few minutes, it handles better cold and seals more easily.
  • For a hearty appetizer spread, count two to three empanadas per person, they go fast warm straight from the oven.

The variations

  • Swap the ground beef for shredded chicken cooked with the same spices for a lighter flavor.
  • For a vegetarian version, use cooked lentils and diced vegetables instead of meat, keeping the same olives and raisins.
  • For kids, skip the olives and cut the spices in half, the filling stays flavorful but milder.

What to serve it with

  • Chimichurri sauce for dipping
  • A glass of light red wine
  • A fresh tomato salad to start

Storage

Raw empanadas keep for two days in the fridge, covered on a tray, before baking. They freeze very well unbaked, just bake straight from frozen with a few extra minutes in the oven. Once baked, reheat for ten minutes in the oven to bring back the crispness.

Questions about this recipe

Can you use store bought empanada discs?

Yes, ready made discs save time and are easy to find in most grocery stores. Homemade shortcrust pastry gives a slightly more rustic result but works just as well.

How do you keep empanadas from opening while baking?

Don't overfill each pastry and crimp the edges well with your fingers or a fork. The filling needs to be cold, otherwise it softens the dough and prevents a good seal.

Can you fry empanadas instead of baking them?

Yes, that's a traditional method in Argentina, they cook for a few minutes in hot oil until golden. Baking stays simpler and less greasy for a dinner with friends.

What ingredient gives the filling its authentic Argentine flavor?

The cumin and paprika combination with green olives is characteristic of the traditional filling. Raisins add that typical sweet touch that balances the salty, spiced flavors.

Can some beef empanadas be made ahead?

Yes, it's even recommended. The recipe needs 45 min of work in total, split up like this, the day before, 4 steps, before the guests arrive, 1 step.

How long does it take to make some beef empanadas?

Allow 1 h 30 in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 45 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "medium".

How many calories are in some beef empanadas?

About 300 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does some beef empanadas cost?

About €1.90 per person, that's €11.40 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, eggs, lactose. Remember to ask your guests about their allergies before putting your menu together.

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