Empanada Facts: Latin American Pastry & Savory Pockets

Empanadas represent one of Latin America's most beloved foods appearing in countless regional variations across the continent. These stuffed pastries feature savory or sweet fillings enclosed in dough, folded into crescents, sealed with decorative crimping, then baked or fried.

Why Empanadas Look Like Gold Crescents

The name empanada derives from the Spanish verb empanar meaning to wrap or coat in bread. Early empanadas consisted of simple bread dough wrapped around fillings creating handheld meals that traveled well and required no utensils. The Moorish occupation of Iberia from 8th to 15th centuries likely influenced empanada development as similar filled pastries existed in Middle Eastern and North African cuisines. Spanish and Portuguese empanadas appeared in cookbooks as early as the 1520s documenting established tradition.

Argentina's Empanada Obsession and Secret Crimping Codes

Argentina developed the most famous and diverse empanada culture in Latin America with each province claiming distinct styles and fillings. Argentine empanadas typically use wheat flour dough enriched with lard or butter creating tender flaky pastry. Tucumán province claims Argentina's best empanadas featuring beef cut by knife rather than ground, onion, hard boiled egg, and sometimes raisins and olives creating sweet savory balance. Argentina celebrates empanadas so enthusiastically that April 8th became National Empanada Day with competitions judging crust quality, filling flavor, and proper crimping.

How Every Latin American Country Makes Empanadas Differently

Every Latin American country developed distinct empanada traditions reflecting local ingredients and cooking methods. Chilean empanadas called empanadas de pino feature beef, onion, hard boiled egg, black olive, and raisin filling in wheat dough then baked. Colombian empanadas differ dramatically using corn flour dough creating different texture and yellow color. The filling includes ground beef or shredded chicken with potato and Colombian spices.