Colombian Empanada Recipe made with cornmeal (2024)

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If there is one Colombian food that everyone I know likes, it would be empanadas without a doubt.

Colombian Empanada Recipe made with cornmeal (1)

Empanadas are typical Colombian street food, deep fried corn dough filled with meat and potatoes.

They are versatile. They can be finger food or full blown meals. It all depends on the size and filling you use.

Colombian Empanada Recipe made with cornmeal (2)

In this post I will show how to make the typical meat and potato Colombian empanada using a cornmeal crust. The original recipe calls for homemade dough.

You can get creative with your filling. If you are vegetarian you can make them with just potatoes as a filling and they are still delicious.

Colombian Empanada Recipe made with cornmeal (3)

You can substitute beef for pork, chicken or any blend that you like.

Ingredients

There are many corn flours/meals in the market, but the one that works best for me is the Albers Yellow Corn Meal because it is not super finely ground which gives the dough a bit of texture and crunch.

  • Corn Meal: Albers is my favorite because it gives the dough texture, it almost feels like a made-from-scratch dough.
  • Beef: You can use ground beef but I prefer to use a flank steak or any other cut of meat and grill/pan sear first and then grind it. I like this texture better than ground beef. You can also use shredded beef.
  • Potatoes: Any kind of potatoes work. I usually work with red potatoes.

The Empanada Dough

Getting your dough right is the key to making delicious Colombian empanadas.

Colombian Empanada Recipe made with cornmeal (4)

If the dough is too wet, it will be too sticky to work with and it will be hard to shape the empanada.

If the dough is too dry, your empanadas will crack open when frying them. It will make the filling super greasy and if the filling comes out your oil will start splattering.

Filling

Making empanadas can take a long time. I highly recommend making your filling in advance. That way it will be cooled down when you are ready to deep fry the empanadas and it will be easier.

Colombian Empanada Recipe made with cornmeal (5)

You can make the filling up to a day in advance. All the ingredients are cooked once you form your empanadas so all the deep frying does is just heat it up and make the outside crunchy.

How to Shape them

Ideally you will use an empanada dough press that way you get clean edges but if you don't have one don't worry, you can use a plate to create the moon shape and seal them tightly by hand.

Colombian Empanada Recipe made with cornmeal (6)

Colombian Aji Sauce

Empanadas are typically dressed with a vinegar based sauce with minced onions, cilantro and pepper. It is mild but you can up the heat using chillies.

Colombian Empanada Recipe made with cornmeal (7)
Colombian Empanada Recipe made with cornmeal (8)

If you are visiting Colombia, be sure to checkout my post on the top foods you must try when you go there!

Colombian Empanada Recipe made with cornmeal (9)

Colombian Empanadas

Isabel

4.85 from 76 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Colombian

Servings 12 Empanadas

Ingredients

Dough

  • 2 cups yellow corn meal
  • 2.5 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Filling

  • 1 lb Skirt Steak
  • 3 medium potatoes
  • cup cilantro
  • ¼ roasted bell pepper optional
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Dough

  • Boil the water, add salt, oil and paprika

  • Add the corn meal and stir until well incorporated. About 3-5 minutes

  • Let the dough cool down and knead it untill the dough is uniform.

Filling

  • Season meat with salt and pepper. I like to add paprika and onion salt too.

  • Grill it or pan sear it until it reaches a medium well temperature.

  • peel and cut the potatoes in cubes and boil them with salt until tender.

  • In a food processor, add the meat cut in strips, cilantro and red pepper if using. Grind them until the meat resembles ground beef.

    Colombian Empanada Recipe made with cornmeal (10)

  • Mash the potatoes and mix with the ground beef. Let the filling cool down.

Build the Empanadas

  • Divide the dough in golf sized balls. Flatten them with a tortilla press or a round plate. Use a clean plastic bag or parchment paper to prevent the dough to sticking to your working surface

  • If using an empanada mold, fill the dough with the meat and potatoes in the center and press to create a half moon shape.

  • If you don't have an empanada mold, put the filling in one side of your dough and fold it in half. Press with a round bowl or cap to seal the filling in place.

Frying

  • Heat up 3 cups of vegetable oil in a frying pan until they reach about 350 Fahrenheit or 165 celsius.

  • Add the empanadas and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown

  • Remove from the heat and place on a paper towel

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ebony

    Omg these were so good!!!!! And the recipe was so easy to follow. Do they freeze well? I wonder if I could make a bunch then fry them later because as you mentioned it is a little time consuming. Thank you!!!

    Reply

  2. Jason Pelican

    Colombian Empanada Recipe made with cornmeal (11)
    One thing your recipe doesn't mention that is crucial is that the cornmeal needs to be precooked cornmeal. If someone can't find Albers cornmeal, they need to know that they can substitute as long as it's precooked. For example, I use PAN, but there is also Goya's Masarepa Yellow corn meal

    Reply

    • Lynne Sani

      Aren’t you cooking the corn meal in the boiling water per the recipe?

      Reply

      • Isabel

        No, you still need to fry them to get a crispy shell, otherwise they wouldn't hold up.

        Reply

  3. Steph

    Hi, would these work OK if I brushed some oil on them and baked them in the oven you think?

    Reply

    • Isabel

      I haven't tried it. You won't get the same crunch but it can definitely work.

      Reply

  4. Timothy Hobbs

    Hi, what is the recipe for the sauce please?

    Reply

    • Isabel

      Here is the recipe for aji sauce https://www.tastyaz.com/colombian-aji-sauce/

      Reply

  5. Dulce

    Ok made them. And some cracked so I expected those to be greasy. But so were the ones that didn’t crack. I don’t know if I’m sealing them correctly. Maybe the dough was a little too dry. Help

    Reply

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Colombian Empanada Recipe  made with cornmeal (2024)

FAQs

What are empanadas made of in Colombia? ›

These typical Colombian-style empanadas are tasty turnovers made with savory yellow corn dough stuffed with seasoned pork and beef mixed with cooked potatoes. The meat filling is typically made with cooked and shredded beef and pork, but here, we use ground meat to cut down in cooking time with similar tasty results.

What is the difference between empanada and Colombian empanada? ›

In sharp contrast to their wheat-based primos argentinos, Colombian empanadas use corn as a base for the dough. These tasty treats are usually fried, making them crispier. The filling here, whether it be beef, pork, or chicken is usually shredded.

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.

What are three types of empanadas? ›

Argentine empanadas with beef, cheese, or chicken. Chilean empanadas with beef, cheese, or seafood. Mexican empanadas with spicy beef, potato, or pumpkin.

Is it better to bake or fry empanadas? ›

Both cooking methods produce delicious empanadas. If you want a healthier merienda, bake them in the oven. If you're working with less time, frying them is the way to go. Try both and ask your loved ones to vote on their favorite.

What are traditional empanadas made of? ›

Here, a typical empanada consists of a flour-based dough with various forms of meat fillings, including cubed or ground beef, ham, or chicken. You can also find hard-boiled eggs, olives, peppers, and onions folded into the mixture. Across the country, different regions take their own approach to the cooking process.

What is the best substitute for empanada dough? ›

What Can You Substitute for Empanada Dough? If you're looking for a shortcut, store-bought pie dough can be used to make empanadas. You may need to roll the dough out slightly thinner—it will produce a flakier result than typical empanada dough and is better for baking than frying.

Is empanada dough the same as tortilla dough? ›

If you know how to make homemade flour tortillas, you know how to make empanada dough for frying. There's not a lot of difference — chief one being that you use ice water with empanada dough, and hot water for tortillas. Another difference is the flour.

Are empanadas healthy? ›

Empanadas are a rich source of proteins. They are a perfect combination of carbs and proteins, which makes them ideal for muscle gain and tissue repair. Empanadas are also a rich source of vitamins. They have a moderate amount of Vitamin B-6, which is essential for immunity and reducing stress.

What country puts raisins in their empanadas? ›

The typical Chilean empanada, the baked version (“empanada de horno”), was stuffed with ground beef, olives, raisins, onions and hard-cooked egg, a mix that was seasoned with paprika and cumin.

What race eats empanadas? ›

Empanada
Empanadillas from Spain
TypePastry
Associated cuisineSpanish Argentinian Peruvian Chilean Colombian Cuban Ecuadorian Mexican Venezuelan Uruguayan Sardinian Filipino Sicilian
Main ingredientsMeat, cheese, corn, or other ingredients
VariationsPastel, pasty
4 more rows

What time of day are empanadas eaten? ›

Empanadas are so versatile that they can be eaten at any time of day, as a snack or a meal, alone or with a condiment. They are a great grab-and-go food, and since empanadas are handheld, there's very little mess.

Are wheat or corn empanadas better? ›

Yes, the wheat flour empanadas taste different from the corn flour. The corn flour is a bit more sweet (with noticeable corn flavor) and has a thicker, crunchier texture due to the ground corn that is used. The wheat flour option is more bland (think processed wheat bread that is flattened) and has a smoother texture.

What is the fancy name for empanadas? ›

These are a few of the known names: Meat Pies (American) Empanadas (Latin/Spanish) Pastelillos (Latin/Spanish)

Is empanada dough the same as pastry dough? ›

While pie dough is designed to be flaky, empanada dough is meant to be more tender. Pastry for empanadas has a higher flour-to-fat ratio, making it sturdy and perfect for wrapping around meaty fillings. Some recipes use lard or an additional egg as the fat source, but our recipe keeps it simple and easy with butter.

What is the traditional food of Colombia? ›

Colombian cuisine features a variety of dishes, from hearty stews and soups to street food favorites. Some of the most popular traditional dishes in Colombian cuisine include: Bandeja paisa: A hearty meal consisting of rice, beans, ground meat, fried egg, avocado, and plantains. It is a staple of Colombian cuisine.

What is in a Latin empanada? ›

They are made by folding dough over a filling, which may consist of meat, cheese, tomato, corn, or other ingredients, and then cooking the resulting turnover, either by baking or frying.

What are arepas and empanadas made of? ›

Arepas are gluten free corn buns filled with beef, chicken, black beans, plantains, avocado, or a combination of all. Arepas fit almost every dietary restriction. Peter's Panas also has a wide variety of empanadas with different fillings such as chicken, beef, and black bean.

What are Guatemalan empanadas made of? ›

These sweet empanadas are a specialty of Guatemala, and they are especially popular during Semana Santa (the week leading up to Easter). The dough for these unusual empanadas is made with very fine cornmeal and flour, and the filling is a cinnamon and vanilla flavored pastry cream-like confection called major de leche.

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