An empanada is a food that consists of a dough filled with cheese, vegetables, chicken, fish, beef or other ingredients . Typically empanadas are baked in the oven , although fried, grilled, and steamed empanadas also exist.
The concept derives from breading , a verb that refers to enclosing something in bread or dough . There are multiple types of empanadas depending on their dough, their filling and their cooking method. There are even savory empanadas (the best known) and sweet empanadas .
Generally, empanada dough is made with wheat flour and some fatty substance. This dough is cut into circles (called tapas in some regions) and then a little filling is added to the center of each one. The next step is to close the empanada with a repulgue ( repulgo ) so that the filling does not come out during cooking.
The characteristics of empanadas vary depending on the region . In Argentina , for example, meat empanadas are very popular, which are generally prepared with minced beef, hard-boiled egg, bell pepper (pepper or chili), onion and olives. Also common are ham and cheese empanadas , chicken empanadas and humita empanadas (with corn or corn).
The Galician empanada , for its part, is usually made with tuna as the main ingredient, accompanied by bell pepper and onion. In any case, it is possible to find Galician empanadas with mussels, octopus , cod, pork or rabbit.
In their sweet version, empanadas or dumplings can be filled with sweet potato sweets, quince sweets or dulce de leche .
Cornish pasties from England , panzerotti from Italy and jiazi from China are other gastronomic products that, due to their characteristics , are similar to empanadas.
One of the most outstanding characteristics of empanadas is their size and the fact that they serve as a main dish or accompaniment. Thanks to their size and the fact that the dough closes, it is very comfortable to eat them with your hand; Although there are those who prefer to use cutlery, this is not necessary, since the repulgue prevents the filling from coming out.
Depending on the region and the occasion, it is normal for empanadas to be enjoyed at family or friend gatherings, and without the need to be around a table, precisely because they can even be taken to a picnic and eaten cold without losing their flavor . This versatility makes them a much more convenient dish than others, such as pizza, for example, which is usually more difficult to eat by hand without the possibility of washing your hands afterwards.
Empanadas can also be prepared with ingredients of plant origin, and in this way vegan people can enjoy this varied and delicious dish without the need to consume meat, eggs or milk. Textured soy is ideal to replace meat, given its consistency, just as mushrooms, fungi and algae can provide different nuances to the flavor to leave ham and fish behind.
The secret of a good meal does not lie in the ingredients but in the preparation and seasonings . For this reason, vegan empanadas can be as tasty as traditional ones: let's not forget that meat is just one of the ingredients, and that we must cook and season it so that the filling takes on the flavor that characterizes it, something that also happens with ham or cheese, two products that can be perfectly replaced by others of plant origin without missing their flavor, texture or the effect they produce in the combination.