Spicy Beef Empanadas
PUBLISHED ON: 03.09.2010
This is an easy empanadas dish. Although traditional empanada dough is similiar to a pie crust. This dough uses a refrigerator biscuit dough, which makes it uncomplicated and easy to handle. The dough is filled with a spicy beef filling, and then folded and baked.
This is great to make in batches and freeze. You can easily use as needed. I enjoy using them for packed lunches or snacks. These spicy filled pies are elegant enough to be served as appetizers. We made a batch to enjoy for this month’s Wine Club gathering. Our focus was Argentinian and Chilean wines.
Spicy Beef Empanadas
Makes about 20
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 green or red bell pepper
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1/3 cup chopped raisins
1/4 cup chopped pimiento stuffed green olives
1-1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1-3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup packed grated Monterey Jack Cheese (about 4-ounces)
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3-12 ounce packages refrigerated buttermilk refrigerator biscuits
2 egg yolks, beaten to blend for glaze
Directions:
Heat oil in a heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add beef, bell pepper and garlic. Cook until beef loses its pink color and vegetables begin to soften, breaking up beef with a fork, about 6 minutes. Add rasins and next 6 ingredients and cook until the mixture is thick, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Mix cheese and cilantro into filling.
Preheat oven to 375 Degrees F. Roll out one biscuit at a time on a lightly floured surface to 4-inch circle. Brush half of dough edge with glaze. Place one rounded tablespoon of filling in dough. Fold dough over to create half circle; press edges to seal. Using fork tines, crimp edges decoratively. Place empanada on a heavy large baking sheet. Brush with glaze. Repeat with remaining biscuits, filling and glaze.
Bake empanadas until golden brown, about 12 minutes.
Enjoy!
Unknown
These look delicious – a whole new take on Cornish pasties!
My Little Space
Oh my, these look so inviting! And the filling sounds pretty tasty as well. I'll add a few more red chilies. hmm…mm….
Angie's Recipes
wow! That look simply heavenly! What are the buttermilk refrigerator biscuits?
Joanne
I love empanadas but never really seem to be in the mood to make the dough. Genius to use refrigerator biscuits! Now I have no excuse.
TKW
I adore empanadas but have never made them. These look terrific!
3 hungry tummies
Oh Velva I'll have to double the quantity 🙂 The photo is marvelous and I can imagine how tasty they are!
Drick
wow, such flavor … and made with biscuits – what could be better
Federica Simoni
bellissimi!! chissà che buoni! baci!
Big Dude
I just finished breakfast and these still made me hungry
Anonymous
I love empanadas! They sound so good with the spicy beef filling!
Cathy
I am a huge empanada fan and never thought to use biscuit dough…you know what I'll be trying this weekend 🙂
Vrinda
I am not familiar with this one,but looks gorgeous…
Rita
I tasted empanadas for the first time last year.I've been wanting to make some but…now i have tokeep this recipe for when i get back home. Love the idea of using all ready made doughthank you,Rita
Kim
I love that you used the refrigerated biscuits. This sounds like a quick and easy way to put together a tasty appetizer. They look delicious!!! I bet the wine party was loads of fun:D
Bo
Looks delicious!! I never buy canned biscuits…I should just to make these…they seem so simple and delicious.
SuziCate
I have never made empanadas but they sure look lovely.
Miss Meat and Potatoes
How beautiful. I LOVE making things like this – perfect finger food for parties but more substantial than 'bready snacks' as my husband likes to say. The wine tasting sounded great but I'll have to make up a batch of sangria to go with these!
Hungry Dog
I love empanadas, and these look fun to make! I'd eat a few for breakfast right now…
Pete
Nice! Good pastry and spicy fillings! I like!
Chef Fresco
That filling look amazing I wanna take a bath in it.
Bob
Love it! I remember reading another recipe that uses biscuits for hand pies, I love the idea. This is something I will make!
Unknown
Love it Velva!!!! those look REALLY good!!!
Barbara
I love these little babies, Velva. I think it's probably because I love pie crust and there is so much of it in an empanada! AND you can pick and choose what to put in them!Yummy!!!
Karen
The canned biscuits sure take the work out of making these… great idea!
Unknown
What an excellent dish, I really need to try this. It is so clever of you to use refrigerated biscuit dough!!!*kisses* HH
tinyskillet
Your empanadas look pretty. I've made them with dough that I made, but they were not as pretty. I like the idea of using pre-made biscuits. Shortcuts are good! Nice spicy recipe!
Gina
They look fabulous and like they would be a great cocktail hour appetizer. Thanks for another great recipe, you're a gem!
T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types
I would guess you could even make these up in advance. Love the use of biscuit dough as a shortcut.
~Lavender Dreamer~
How amazing! I tried to make quesadillias last night but they weren't my best…I should try these! ♥
Ana Powell
Wow, simply delicious.Great recipe x
Mary Bergfeld
This is one of those dishes like pancakes or omelets that can be found around the world. Yours look delicious and your suggestion to make and freeze them spot on. I hope you are having a wonderful day.
Claudia
Oh Velva – is this ever fabulous. I love ths spicy beef filling – and I adore empanadas. This'll be a nice change from Italian!
Stella
Hi Velva, I didn't know that empanada dough is a lot like pie dough. I can whip that up in no time. You've got me thinking now!
Inspired by eRecipeCards
Hey Velma… Do you know a good reason I can't make these with chicken??? I just bought one of those rotisserie chickens and have half left over… I have everything else.Once they are frozen, what's the procedure for thawing… Can I give them frozen in the morning to my wife and have her thaw them in the microwave at her work for lunch???Drop me an email at [email protected] Dave
Faith
These are stunning! This filling looks amazing — I especially love the raisins and green olives in there! And it's a total bonus that it uses refrigerated biscuits!
Debbie
Those are an absolutely perfect appetizer! The filling looks delicious. I love that you used refrigerated biscuit dough….anything to make life easier!!!! Such a great idea!
Carol at Serendipity
How absolutely wonderful! Thank you so much for stopping by.Carol
Chris
Amazing! Great looking empanadas and I have used the same biscuit dough for cheeseburger turnovers and such, but had thought about it for empanadas. Excellent idea!
Emily
Hi Velva, I’m so happy you found my blog so I in turn could find yours. Your recipes look absolutely delicious! I’ll be trying your scallops and quinoa first, and of course your empanadas!
Betsy Banks Adams
Hi Velva, Yum—-that recipe looks delicious… Sounds like something my kids and grands would love… Thanks!!! I've made a copy!Hugs,Betsy
Unknown
O lovely! I will try this dough!
CDC
I've never made an empanada, but this does sound like an \”easier\” version – can you taste the raisins very much??
tasteofbeirut
VelvaThis is a great recipe; I love empanadas but I am reluctant to make the dough for some reason! Love the shortcut!
sweetlife
what a great filling!!yummysweetlife
Carrie @ Cottage Cozy
How very scrumptious!I came over to visit from Anncoo's blog. I am glad to meet you and browse your posts! Hope to be back again soon!Stay Cozy, Carrie
Mimi
Olives and raisins in the filling are a classic south of the boarder combination. These look so tasty.Mimi
La Bella Cooks
The filling sounds wonderful and they turned out perfectly. I am coming to your house for dinner!
Erika from The Pastry Chef At Home
I've been naughtily deep frying my empanadas my whole life. They're good, but really I need to lay off the grease. I love that you use biscuit dough for the pastry! ps: I want to eat that meat straight out of the pan!
Fresh Local and Best
Oh! These empanadas look fabulous! I bet the meat filling was wonderfully flavorful!
Erica
I love empanadas!!!!Yours look fantastic, Velva!!!
Karen Harris
They look delicious!
Astra Libris
Such a great idea to use biscuit dough!! These look delicious! I'm so excited about your freezer-friendly tip, too – super cool!
Inspired by eRecipeCards
OK Velma… They are in the oven as I am typing this…I za za zinged it up a bit, Cajun spices and a little sweet Caribbean sauce (and a tad Coconut Rum). The meat tastes incredible. I used some left over focaccia bread dough, may have stretched it a bit too far… will know in 10 minutes.You should know tomorrow as I plan to blog this!
theUngourmet
These empanadas are awesome! I love that you've used biscuits and the filling has such gorgeous colors. Nice!
A Vapid Blonde
I am so hungry right now I can't even read this.
Kathleen
These little pies look and sound wonderful! I'm glad to hear you have a son my sons age! How did THEY get so old when we obviously haven't?!
Susan Fields
I love the refrigerated biscuit dough – I'm all about convenience! These sound delicious.
Rhandi
Holy cow- your beef mixture looks and sounds fabulous! Whenever I make empanadas- I always do the dough from scratch and it's such a process- I am going to give the refrigerated dough a try- in fact, I think I will just put these yummy little delights on my grocery list.
Ms. Meanie
Gosh, I have been craving empanadas ever since I got back from Peru. These look beautiful! I bet a vegetarian version would be good too.
Kitchen Butterfly
Love Empanadas. They remind me of Nigerian meatpies
Julie
Delish, that meat mixture looks heavenly 🙂
Chef E
You just hit a heart string with me! I love meat pies of any kind, and I would eat the pan of meat cooking, so less empanadas on the plate ;0)