Flaky & Flavorful Homemade Vegan Empanadas: The Ultimate Plant-Based Recipe Guide
Prepare to delight your taste buds with these truly exceptional homemade vegan empanadas. This recipe transcends expectations, delivering a restaurant-quality experience right in your own kitchen. Imagine a perfectly flaky, golden-brown empanada dough, cradling a rich, savory, and impeccably seasoned plant-based filling. Each bite offers a harmonious blend of textures and robust flavors, making these empanadas an instant favorite for vegans and non-vegans alike. They’re not just a meal; they’re a celebration of wholesome ingredients transformed into irresistible comfort food.
What Makes This Vegan Empanada Recipe So Good?
- This recipe offers a refreshingly simple approach to creating your own homemade vegan empanadas, proving that culinary excellence doesn’t have to be complicated. Forget your inhibitions; it’s genuinely a lot easier than you might initially think! We break down the process into logical, manageable steps: first, preparing the tender, flaky dough; next, crafting the flavorful, hearty filling; and finally, expertly cutting, stuffing, and baking your empanadas to golden perfection. You’ll be amazed at the professional results you can achieve with this user-friendly guide.
- Beyond their incredible taste, these empanadas stand out as a much healthier alternative to many other empanada recipes. Our wholesome, plant-based filling is generously packed with nutritious vegetables and high-quality vegan protein, ensuring a satisfying and health-conscious meal. Furthermore, we opt to bake these delicious parcels instead of deep-frying them, drastically reducing the fat content while still achieving that desirable crispy exterior and tender interior. It’s guilt-free indulgence at its finest.
- This recipe offers a brilliant vegan twist on a beloved comfort food classic. Traditional empanadas often rely on meat and/or cheese, which are not suitable for a plant-based diet. However, our vegan empanadas are thoughtfully crafted to be friendly to all sorts of diets and dietary preferences! They are naturally dairy-free, egg-free, and cholesterol-free, making them a superb option for anyone seeking delicious, inclusive food that doesn’t compromise on flavor or texture. Everyone at the table can enjoy them!
The Irresistible Allure of Empanadas and Their Vegan Evolution
Empanadas, a culinary staple in many cultures across Latin America, Spain, and beyond, are universally cherished for their delightful portability and explosion of flavor. Historically, they were a practical way to carry a complete meal, a “bread-wrapped” pocket of savory goodness. Their charm lies in the contrast between a crisp, golden crust and a rich, often hearty filling. This recipe embraces that traditional essence while innovating for the modern palate, offering a plant-based version that loses nothing in taste or texture. In a world increasingly conscious of health, ethics, and environmental impact, these vegan empanadas represent a delicious step forward, proving that plant-based cooking can elevate classic dishes to new heights of flavor and satisfaction.
Chef’s Tips for Perfect Vegan Empanadas
- The golden rule for a flaky empanada dough is to avoid overworking and/or over-mixing it! When you handle the dough too much, especially with warm hands, the cold vegan butter begins to melt and gets incorporated too thoroughly into the flour. This process eliminates the tiny pockets of butter that create steam during baking, which are essential for that coveted flaky, tender crust. Therefore, it’s crucial to work with cold ingredients and minimize the exposure of heat from your hands. If your kitchen is warm, you can even chill your mixing bowl and tools. Quick, decisive handling ensures a truly spectacular texture.
- These versatile vegan empanadas are excellent for make-ahead meals and can be easily frozen for future enjoyment! You have the flexibility to freeze them either before baking or after baking. If you choose to freeze them raw, arrange them on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to an airtight freezer bag or container. When you’re ready to bake, remember to defrost them completely in your fridge overnight before proceeding with the baking instructions in this recipe. Baked empanadas can be frozen similarly and reheated in the oven for best results.
- The serving possibilities for these delicious empanadas are endless! Enjoy them simply by themselves for a satisfying snack, or elevate your meal by pairing them with a side of your favorite vibrant salsa, creamy guacamole, or a traditional plate of fluffy rice and hearty beans. They’re truly the perfect grab-and-go meal or a fantastic appetizer for entertaining. Just reheat them gently in an oven or air fryer until warmed through and crisp, then savor every flavorful bite.
Customizing Your Empanada Filling for Endless Flavor
While our core recipe provides a wonderfully balanced and savory filling, don’t hesitate to get creative and customize your vegan empanadas to suit your personal preferences. The beauty of a plant-based filling is its adaptability. For added texture and sweetness, consider incorporating finely diced bell peppers, sweet corn kernels, or even roasted sweet potato cubes. If you’re looking for an extra boost of greens, sautéed spinach or kale can be folded into the mix. To enhance the protein content, crumbled firm tofu, cooked lentils, or your favorite vegan ground crumbles are excellent additions. Spice it up further with a pinch of smoked paprika for depth, a dash of chili powder for heat, or fresh cilantro for a bright, herbaceous finish. You can even experiment with a spoonful of your favorite vegan shredded cheese alternatives for a melty surprise inside. The possibilities are truly boundless, ensuring a unique and delicious experience every time you make them.
More Delicious Vegan Recipes to Explore
If you’re eager to expand your repertoire of plant-based culinary delights, we’ve curated a selection of other fantastic vegan recipes that are just as flavorful and satisfying as these empanadas. From comforting classics to innovative dishes, there’s something here for every craving. Dive into these recipes and discover the incredible versatility and joy of vegan cooking:
- Vegan Coconut Cream Pie
- Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Easy Vegan Cottage Cheese
- Vegan Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
- Perfect Vegan Pound Cake
- Magic Vegan Birria Tacos
- Easy 10-Minute Vegan Garlic Bread
- Vegan Seitan “Chicken”
- Easy Vegan Tofu Cream Cheese (4 Flavors)
- Crispy Vegan Chicken Sandwich
Ready to create these culinary masterpieces? Below you’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe for these comforting and utterly delicious homemade vegan empanadas. Follow these instructions closely, and you’ll soon be enjoying flaky crusts and a savory plant-based filling that will impress everyone.
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Vegan Empanadas
Cheryl Malik
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Ingredients
- neutral oil optional, for top of empanadas
For the Empanada Dough
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ cup cold vegan butter cut into ¼-inch cubes
- ½ cup cold water
For the Empanada Filling
- 1 large russet potato peeled and cut into ¼-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ of one onion finely chopped
- 1 carrot grated
- 1 celery stalk finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 15.25-ounce can black beans drained and rinsed well
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and black pepper to taste
Equipment
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Food processor
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Plastic Wrap
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small pot
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Colander
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Large skillet
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Rolling Pin
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Baking sheet
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Parchment paper
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Fork
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Basting brush optional
Instructions
For the Empanada Dough
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Add all-purpose flour and salt to your food processor and pulse briefly to combine the dry ingredients thoroughly. Next, introduce the cold vegan butter, cut into small cubes, and the cold water to the food processor. Pulse the mixture just until it forms a coarse, crumbly texture, resembling wet sand with visible, pea-sized bits of butter. Be careful not to overmix, as this will prevent a flaky crust.
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Carefully transfer the coarse dough mixture from the food processor onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Gently bring the dough together, forming it into a large, cohesive ball. Ensure it’s covered tightly with the plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This chilling period is crucial for the dough to firm up and for the gluten to relax, which contributes to a tender, flaky crust.
For the Empanada Filling
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Fill a small pot with water and bring it to a rapid boil. Carefully add the cubed russet potato to the boiling water and cook until the potato pieces are just fork-tender, typically around 3 minutes. Immediately and carefully pour the water and potatoes into a colander to drain thoroughly. Set the drained potatoes aside to cool slightly while you prepare the other filling ingredients.
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In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat until it’s hot and shimmering. Add the finely chopped onion, grated carrot, finely chopped celery, and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté the vegetables, stirring occasionally, until they become tender and fragrant, which should take approximately 2 minutes. This step builds the aromatic base for your savory filling.
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Into the skillet with the sautéed vegetables, add the drained and rinsed black beans, the boiled potato cubes, frozen peas, cumin, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and season generously with salt and black pepper to taste. Stir everything together thoroughly and cook until all the ingredients are heated through and the spices are fragrant, typically a few minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and set the filling aside to cool completely before assembling the empanadas.
For the Empanadas
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Before you begin assembling, preheat your oven to 375° Fahrenheit (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easier cleanup, then set it aside, ready for your prepared empanadas.
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Remove the chilled dough from the fridge and place it on a lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a large, flat disc, aiming for an approximate thickness of ¼-inch. With a round cookie cutter (or rim of a glass) about 4 to 5 inches in diameter, cut out individual circles from the dough. Carefully transfer these dough circles to your prepared baking sheet. Re-roll any scraps to cut more circles.
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For each dough circle, place approximately 3 tablespoons of the cooled empanada filling onto one half of the circle, leaving a small border around the edge. Fold the other half of the dough circle over the filling, creating a classic half-moon shape. Gently press the edges together to seal, then use the tines of a fork to crimp and further seal the edges of each half-moon, ensuring the filling stays securely inside during baking.
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If you desire a slightly crisper and more golden finish, lightly brush a neutral oil (like olive or avocado oil) on the tops of the empanadas using a basting brush. Place the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the empanadas are beautifully golden brown and the crust appears flaky. Remove them from the oven, let them cool slightly to handle, and then serve alone or with your favorite salsa for an extra burst of flavor.
Notes
- Make it Gluten Free: For a gluten-free version, simply substitute the all-purpose flour with a high-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Ensure your chosen blend contains xanthan gum for best results, or add ½ teaspoon per cup of flour.
- Filling Variations: Feel free to experiment with other vegetables like finely diced bell peppers, sweet corn, or sautéed mushrooms for added flavor and texture. You can also boost the protein by adding cooked lentils or crumbled firm tofu to the filling.
Nutrition Information
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
We truly hope you enjoy making and savoring these delightful vegan empanadas as much as we do. They are a testament to how flavorful and satisfying plant-based cooking can be. Don’t forget to share your creations and leave us a review – your feedback helps our community of healthy eaters grow! Happy cooking!