Ham and Cheese Empanadas

Empanadas are visually appealing, and the filling will surprise you with melted cheese and a hint of oregano.

Details

  • Preparation Time: 85 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 35 minutes
  • Difficulty: 2
  • Spiciness: 0
  • Number of Servings: 4

Ingredients

Dough

  • 300 g Wheat flour, white, multi-purpose

  • 0.5 teaspoons Salt, table

  • 70 g Butter, unsalted

  • 2 piece Egg, fresh

  • 1 dl Water, bottled

  • 1 teaspoon Vinegar, red wine

Filling

  • 300 g Ham, pressed

  • 250 g Cheese, edamame

  • 1 pinch Salt, table

  • 1 pinch Spices, pepper, black

  • 1 teaspoon Spices, oregano, dried

Steps

  1. Sift the flour into a bowl and mix it with salt. Cut the butter into small pieces. Add them to the bowl and rub the fat into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Separate one egg into yolk and white. Reserve the yolk in a small bowl for later. In another bowl, whisk together the egg, egg white, water, and vinegar. Slowly pour the liquid into the bowl and mix all the ingredients well with your hands. Quickly knead the dough on a floured surface until it becomes smooth and pliable. If it's sticky, add a little more flour. Shape the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for one hour.

  2. Dice the cooked ham and cheese into small cubes and place them in a bowl. Season with a teaspoon of oregano, a pinch of salt, and pepper, then mix well with a spoon.

  3. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and roll it out on a floured surface to a thickness of 0.5 cm. Cut out 4 large circles from the dough (using a template or a bowl). Place the filling on the lower half of each circle and cover it with the upper half, forming a half-moon pocket. Press the edges together firmly and use a fork to create a pattern along the entire edge.

  4. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and place the prepared empanadas on it. Beat the reserved egg yolk with a fork and brush it over the empanadas. Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Serve the empanadas warm or cold.

Nutrition Information (Per 100g)

  • Calories: 297.91 kcal
  • Fat: 14.87 g
    • Saturated Fat: 8.14 g
  • Carbohydrates: 22.64 g
    • Sugars: 0.19 g
  • Protein: 14.4 g
  • Fiber: 0.94 g

Advice

If you have leftover dough and filling, knead the dough, roll it out, and cut out circles to fill. Repeat the process until all the dough and filling are used up. You can cut the dough into circles of any size, determining the size of the empanadas. Make small ones for a party and larger ones for lunch or dinner. Empanadas are served in both Spain and Argentina. The only difference is that in Argentina, youll get beef instead of cooked ham.