Empanada Dough (recipe for frying) | Kitchen Gidget (2024)

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Make empanadas at home from scratch with this easy empanada dough recipe! With just a few ingredients, this post will show you how to make empanada dough, which is ideal for frying with sweet or savory fillings. It can also be frozen like Goya empanada dough discos for use at a later time.

Empanada Dough (recipe for frying) | Kitchen Gidget (1)

Empanada Dough

It’s finally here! This empanada dough recipe is long overdue!

I have to admit, I usually just buy the frozen discos from the grocery store. Empanada dough is not hard to make, it’s just more time consuming.

However, if you’re going to take the time to make your own dough, you might as well make a double or triple batch and freeze the extras.

That way you have your own empanada discos on hand whenever you need them.

I use this dough to make empanadas/empanadillas and pastelitos/pastelillos.

If you aren’t sure what those are, they are handheld pies stuffed with sweet or savory ingredients and then fried.

Empanada Dough (recipe for frying) | Kitchen Gidget (2)

Can you bake them? Absolutely, but they won’t have the same crispy texture, they’ll be kind of chewy.

If you’re going to bake them, I recommend brushing the outside with a beaten egg for a crispier, golden crust.

If you want baked empanadas, I’d recommend using a pie crust recipe (from scratch or the refrigerated kind).

Pie dough is specifically made for baking and this dough is better fried.

My favorite filling is picadillo, which is a ground beef filling.

These Puerto Rican empanadas are called pastelillos.

I also like sweet guava empanadas stuffed with cream cheese and guava paste, or funpizza empanadas.

I will post those recipes on the blog soon, but I wanted to make sure you guys had this recipe first.

Not everyone has access to the premade dough!

UPDATE: you can click the links above for the posted empanada recipes!

First step is to mix the dry ingredients together.

Next, you’ll need to cut in or distribute the fat. Some people use butter, others use shortening.

I like the texture of shortening myself, but butter has better flavor.

Empanada Dough (recipe for frying) | Kitchen Gidget (3)

Work the shortening into the flour using a pastry cutter or a fork until the dry ingredients have the texture of chunky sand.

You don’t want to use your hands since the warmth will begin to melt the shortening. Cold fat is what gives the crust a flaky texture.

I use my grandma’s antique pastry cutter to do this, but this one is a great option from Amazon.

Plus you can get free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime. Did you know you can get a FREE 30-day trial of Prime every year??

We used to do that every year until my husband went back to school and now we get Prime Student for 50% off.

Anyways, after you’ve got the shortening cut in, add the liquid and mix until it forms a shaggy dough.

It’s best not to add the water all at once. You can always add more if needed.

It won’t quite stick together, so knead it with your hands until a smooth ball is formed.

At this point it’s ready to be used in a recipe, or you can roll it out, cut into rounds and freeze for later use.

Empanada Dough (recipe for frying) | Kitchen Gidget (4)

To recap:

  • You can freeze empanada dough after rolling out into discs. Stack them on top of one another with a piece of wax or parchment paper between each one, then place them in a freezer bag. Pull out the amount of wrappers you need when ready to cook and let thaw for 10-20 minutes before filling.
  • This dough can be baked instead of fried. Brush the outside of the empanadas with a beaten egg and bake at 425°F for about 10+ minutes. Cook time will vary based on filling and size. Follow the directions of the recipe you’re using.

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Empanada Dough (recipe for frying) | Kitchen Gidget (5)

Empanada Dough (recipe for frying) | Kitchen Gidget (6)

Yield: 10-12

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Make empanadas at home from scratch with this easy empanada dough recipe! With just a few ingredients, this post will show you how to make empanada dough, which is ideal for frying with sweet or savory fillings. They can also be frozen like Goya empanada dough discos for use at a later time.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup shortening
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1 cup ice cold water

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt. Using a pastry cutter or a fork, cut in the shortening until the flour resembles chunky sand.
  2. Make a well in the center of the flour and add vinegar and about 3/4 cup of the water. Stir with a fork until a shaggy dough forms. Add remaining water a tablespoon at a time if all the flour has not been moistened.
  3. Turn out onto a clean surface and gently knead into a smooth dough. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1-2 days if not using immediately.
  4. Divide dough into 2-10 pieces (whatever is easiest to work with) and roll out to 1/8-inch thick. Cut into rounds using a cookie cutter or tracing a bowl with a knife.
  5. Discs can be filled immediately and cooked. If not using immediately, stack on top of each other with a piece of parchment or wax paper between each pastry. Place in a Ziploc bag and refrigerate for 1 day or freeze.
  6. If using from frozen, allow to thaw at room temperature for about 10-20 minutes before proceeding to recipe.

Notes

The amount of empanadas will vary depending on size. This dough will produce about 10-12 5-inch discos.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 152Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 178mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 3g

Nutritional information provided is an estimate only. Please consult the labels of ingredients you use for more accurate results.

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a comment below! Or tag @kitchengidget on Instagram with the hashtag #kitchengidget

Empanada Dough (recipe for frying) | Kitchen Gidget (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between baking and frying empanada dough? ›

Baked empanadas are easier because you can bake a whole ton at once and certainly lighter without all that deep fried goodness but they don't have quite the same flavor as the fried version. So I leave it up to you! Don't skip the egg wash if baking because it is what helps give the empanadas their color!

What does egg do to empanada dough? ›

Texture: The empanada dough is to die for. It's buttery with the perfect amount of crunch and interior softness. The chorizo adds bits of meatiness, the potato adds starchy softness, while the eggs add fluffiness.

Why does my empanada dough crack? ›

The main ingredients are water and corn flour. If you don't work quickly, the dough will dry out and start to crack. Cracked empanada dough means that your empanadas will also have cracks in them, which means oil seeping into your filling in the fryer and drying out your empanada.

What are the benefits of baking the empanadas rather than frying? ›

Pros: This is a healthier technique as it doesn't require oil. It's also more economical in the long run. Baked pastries have a longer shelf life. You can keep them chilled or frozen, then reheat them in the oven or toaster.

What is the best oil for frying empanadas? ›

Oil that is too cool will make your fried empanadas greasy and sad. I normally use canola oil for fried empanadas because it's flavorless and has a high smoke point. Lard tastes better, but you end up frying very close to lard's smoke point, which is tricky; when oil gets too hot it will taste acrid.

Which dough is best for empanadas? ›

As mentioned above many people will use their favorite pre-made pie dough to make empanadas. This is because the ingredients for most dough recipes are very similar. Most pie doughs use flour, butter, salt, water, and sometimes egg; an ingredient list almost identical to those needed for this recipe!

Why put vinegar in empanada dough? ›

Adding a little vinegar to your dough will result in a tender, pliable, and flaky crust because it slightly inhibits gluten development, leading to a crust that is flakier and easier to work with. The great thing about vinegar is that you really only need a little bit of it to help your pie/empanada dough.

Should you add egg to dough? ›

besides the nutritional benefits there are a few other good reasons to use egg in breadmaking. It makes the bread lighter and fluffier. The reason for that is the fat in the yolk that inhibits gluten formation just as any other fat would. This results in a looser dough that can expand and puff up more.

How do you keep fried empanadas crispy? ›

The best way to keep fried foods crispy? Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. If you're frying multiple batches, throw the whole setup into a low oven to keep everything warm as you keep frying and adding to the rack.

Can I leave empanada dough overnight? ›

Shape dough into a smooth ball; wrap in foil or cling wrap, and refrigerate overnight or up to a week.

How do you keep empanadas from exploding? ›

Be sure not to overfill your empanadas as you assemble, which is easy to do. Use a little less than you think, to prevent any holes or tears in the dough and to prevent them from bursting open as they bake.

What nationality makes the best empanadas? ›

Argentina has become world-famous for their empanadas which are widely available in Buenos Aires and across the country as fast-food options and restaurant staples. As with many recipes, that of empanadas was shared through generations and carried to many other nations.

Which is better baking or frying? ›

Greater nutrient retention: Unlike frying, baking is a preparation method that retains many nutrients commonly lost when cooking. There is better preservation of healthy vitamins and minerals while minimizing your chances of the bad ones, like aldehydes, which can result in foods fried at high temperatures.

What is fried empanada called? ›

Empanadas de viento or "windy" empanadas are fried, wheat-based empanadas stuffed with stringy cheese and sprinkled with sugar. They have been given this appellation for their inflated appearance as if they have been filled with air.

Are traditional empanadas baked or fried? ›

Across the country, different regions take their own approach to the cooking process. In Salta, empanadas are usually baked, while in Tucumán, they're fried. Around the world, a few of the most popular fillings include: Beef.

Can you bake frying empanada dough? ›

Our line of ready-to-use flour dough discs are the #1 ingredient for preparing a wide variety of empanadas, a favorite in Latin America and around the world. Discover our extensive line of products in the freezer section, which includes discs that can be baked or fried, and come in a variety of sizes and colors.

Can you fry goya empanada dough for baking? ›

Prepare flavorful homemade empanadas easily with convenient GOYA® Tapas Criollas – Dough for Turnover Pastries, which are perfect for baking or frying.

What is the difference between baking and frying? ›

One of the main differences between baking and frying is the heat source used to cook the food. In baking, heating elements are used to heat the air around a food, which in turn cooks the food in the oven. With frying, heating elements are used to heat the oil that surrounds a food.

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