Empanada

Empanada: A Tasty Journey from Latin America

Empanada is a beloved pastry in many Latin American countries, offering a delightful blend of flavors and textures. It’s a handheld pie or turnover filled with a variety of ingredients, often meat, cheese, vegetables, or fruits, enclosed in a flaky dough. The name ’empanada’ itself translates to ‘wrapped’ or ‘enclosed,’ perfectly describing its characteristic shape.

Recipe: Classic Beef Empanada

Ingredients:
– 2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
– 6-7 tablespoons ice water
– 1 pound ground beef
– 1 small onion, finely chopped
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 green bell pepper, chopped (optional)
– 1 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1/2 cup vegetable oil
– 1 egg, beaten (for brushing)
– Sesame seeds or cumin (for topping)

Instructions:

1. Dough Preparation: In a mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add ice water, stirring with a fork, until the dough comes together. Knead gently for about 2 minutes until smooth. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

2. Filling: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and bell pepper (if using), sautéing until softened. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Stir in oregano and season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.

3. Assembly: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a rectangle about 1/8-inch thick. Cut into circles using a cookie cutter or the top of a drinking glass. Place a heaping tablespoon of filling in the center of each circle. Brush the edges with beaten egg and fold the dough over to create half-moons, pressing the edges to seal. You can also crimp the edges for a more decorative finish.

4. Baking: Place empanadas on a lined baking sheet, brush the tops with beaten egg, and sprinkle with sesame seeds or cumin (optional). Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

5. Serving: Enjoy warm empanadas as a main course or snack. They are equally delicious with a side of salsa, guacamole, or a cold beverage.
   

   Prompt

   Empanada dish, colorful, very detailed, HD, highly detailed, sharp focus, stunningly beautiful, hyper-detailed, HDR+, 16K, retro-futuristic, vintage sci-fi, 50s and 60s style, atomic age, vibrant, highly detailed
   
   
   Negative prompt

   contemporary, realistic, rustic, primitive
   
   Text model: aya-expanse

Image model: PixelWave