Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year, is a month-long celebration of the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Empanadas can be traced back to Spain and Portugal in the 1500s. Now, empanadas are staples in many Hispanic countries, each with their own variation.
Empanadas are great to make with kids because they are an easy, hands-on dish that is fun to make. Some of the traditional ingredients my mother-in-law has shown me include egg and olive, but you can get creative and add anything you want. Plus they're delicious! I hope your family loves these baked empanadas as much as mine does!
 Kent Ng | Canva |
Grandma's (Baked, Not Fried) Empanadas
Ingredients and materials:
- A dash of olive oil
- 2 eggs
- 4 tablespoons of milk (or water)
- Sofrito (optional - a tomato cooking base made with green peppers, onions, cilantro, and garlic in olive oil. Found in the international aisle of your grocery store.)
- 1 pound of lean ground beef or turkey
- Adobo (a paste or marinade typically made from chili peppers, vinegar, herbs, and spices, used in Mexican cooking. It can be found in the international aisle of your grocery store.)
- Salt/pepper to taste
- 8 oz. can of tomato sauce
- 1 can of red beans
- 20 empanada discs (these can typically be found in the international section of the frozen food aisle)
- 1 cup of Monterey Jack or Mexican Blend cheese
- Round perforated pizza pan (the perforation helps cook the empanadas evenly so they won’t need to be turned)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly grease your pizza pan with olive oil.
2. Mix eggs and milk in a bowl, set aside.
3. Heat sofrito in a hot skillet then add ground meat for browning, season with adobo and/or salt/pepper, and add half of the can of tomato sauce.
4. Once the meat is cooked through, drain the excess fat and add the beans.
5. Let the meat and bean mixture cool.
6. On a cutting board, place an empanada disc, then add a spoonful of mixture to the center with some cheese, being careful not to overfill. Fold over (like a half moon), then crimp the edges of the empanada with a fork. Brush with a little of the egg mixture.
 Los Muertos Crew | Canva |
If you don't have a perforated pizza pan, flip your empanadas about halfway through cooking.
7. Place your empanadas on your greased pan.
8. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes until golden brown.
