Empanada literally means “wrapped in bread” but this description does not do justice to the wonder of this Argentine staple. These savoury pockets are served warm as a prelude to the asado, or on their own at parties. And if you need an empanada fix you can get them delivered like pizza. But don’t make the mistake of believing all empanadas are created equal. Due to different geography, climate and tradition, empanadas vary depending on where you are in Argentina.
SALTA AND JUJUY
Ask anyone in Buenos Aires who makes the best empanadas and nine times out of ten they’ll tell you to head north. No, not to Belgrano or Nuñez, but to Salta and Jujuy. Empanadas are a proud obsession in these Northern provinces. In Salta, where empanada-making contests are a regular occurrence, empanadas salteñas contain knife-cut meat, hunks of al dente potato, boiled egg, and spring onion (scallion). In Jujuy, peas and peppers are added to empanadas jujeñas and the package is a little spicier.
RECIPE: EMPANADAS SALTEÑAS
Ingredients (12)
500g pastry dough (in Argentina you can buy pre-made discs – tapas para empanadas – if you don’t want to make the dough by hand.)
Egg yolk for brushing the tops of the empanadas
1kg beef
500g onion
300g boiled potatoes
3 hardboiled eggs
250g spring onion
1 tablespoon cumin
1 tablespoon red chilli powder (less if you don’t like it spicy)
1 tablespoon paprika
Olive oil
Warm water
Salt to taste
Preparation
Filling
Finely chop all of the ingredients, including the beef. The potatoes should be al dente. Heat the olive oil in a large pan and fry the meat until golden brown. Add the onion, potatoes, cumin, chilli and paprika, and enough water from the potatoes to cover the mixture. Cover and cook until the meat is tender. Add salt to taste. Leave to cool, then add the chopped egg and spring onion.
Empanadas
Preheat oven to 180°C. Shape the dough into circles approximately 13cm in diameter (or use the pre-made discs). Add a heap of filling into the centre of each disc. Wet the edges with water. Fold the disc in half, then seal the edges with a fork or, if you’re feeling adventurous, finish the empanadas with the repulgue fold.
Brush the empanadas with egg, place on a baking tray, and bake for 12-20 minutes until golden brown.
All information belongs to: https://therealargentina.com/en/the-best-empanadas-in-argentina-regional-recipes/