Chilean empanadas are a delicious and popular pastry dish in Chile. They are made with a filling of meat, onions, raisins, black olives, and boiled eggs, all encased in a flaky pastry crust. If you want to make this traditional dish at home

Chilean empanadas are a beloved food in Chile, enjoyed as a snack or a main dish. They are typically filled with a mixture of ground meat, onions, raisins, sliced black olives, and chopped hard-boiled eggs. The filling is seasoned with spices like cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper, giving it a delicious and complex flavor.

The dough for Chilean empanadas is made with a combination of butter, lard, flour, and ice-cold water. The fats are cut into the flour until the mixture is crumbly, then water is added to bring the dough together. The dough is then chilled for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out and cutting it into circles for the empanadas.

Once the filling and dough are prepared, the empanadas are assembled by placing a spoonful of the filling onto each dough circle, folding the dough over the filling, and crimping the edges with a fork to seal them. The empanadas are then brushed with beaten egg to give them a golden brown and shiny appearance.

Chilean empanadas are typically baked in the oven until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, while the filling inside is hot and flavorful. They can be served as a snack or appetizer, or as a main dish with a side salad or vegetables.

One popular accompaniment to Chilean empanadas is pebre, a spicy salsa made with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, garlic, and hot peppers. The pebre adds a refreshing and spicy contrast to the rich and savory empanadas.

In terms of nutrition, Chilean empanadas are a hearty and satisfying food that is high in calories and fat. Each serving contains about 394 calories and 24.9 grams of fat, so they should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

here is a step-by-step guide to help you:

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

1- 3 cups all-purpose flour

2- 1/2 tsp. salt

3- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed

4- 1/2 cup lard, chilled and cubed

5- 1/2 cup water, ice-cold

For the Filling:

1- 1 lb. ground beef or pork

2- 1 large onion, finely chopped

3- 1/4 cup raisins

4- 1/4 cup sliced black olives

5- 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

6- 1 tsp. cumin

7- 1 tsp. paprika

8- 1/2 tsp. dried oregano

9- 1/2 tsp. salt

10- 1/4 tsp. black pepper

11- 2 tbsp. vegetable oil

Method:

1- To make the dough, mix the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the chilled butter and lard and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the fats into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse sand.

2- Add the ice-cold water gradually and mix until the dough comes together. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly until it forms a smooth ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

3- To make the filling, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes.

4- Add the raisins, olives, chopped hard-boiled eggs, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for another 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

5- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

6- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to a thickness of about 1/8 inch. Cut out circles about 6 inches in diameter.

7- Place a spoonful of the filling in the center of each circle. Fold the dough over the filling and press the edges together to seal. Use a fork to crimp the edges.

8- Place the empanadas on the prepared baking sheet and brush the tops with beaten egg.

9- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the empanadas are golden brown.

Notes:

1- Chilean empanadas are traditionally served with a spicy pebre sauce on the side.

2- You can also make smaller empanadas for appetizers or larger ones for a main course.

Nutrition Facts (per serving, based on 12 servings):

• Calories: 394
• Fat: 24.9 g
• Saturated Fat: 10.5 g
• Cholesterol: 81 mg
• Sodium: 386 mg
• Carbohydrates: 28.3 g
• Fiber: 1.3 g
• Sugar: 2.6 g
• Protein: 12.6 g

Enjoy your homemade Chilean empanadas!