Embark on a culinary adventure with these incredibly comforting and irresistibly delicious homemade vegan empanadas! This isn’t just another recipe; it’s a guide to creating a truly restaurant-quality experience right in your own kitchen. Imagine biting into a perfectly flaky, golden-brown crust, giving way to a rich, savory, and impeccably seasoned plant-based filling. These empanadas are a testament to how vibrant and satisfying vegan cuisine can be, proving that you don’t need animal products to achieve profound depth of flavor and texture. Whether you’re a seasoned vegan chef or just exploring plant-based options, this recipe promises a delightful journey that culminates in a batch of empanadas so good, they’ll become an instant favorite for any meal or gathering.
Why Embrace Vegan Empanadas?
Choosing vegan empanadas is more than just a dietary preference; it’s a step towards conscious eating that doesn’t compromise on taste or satisfaction. Traditional empanadas often feature meat and cheese, which, while popular, can be heavy and unsuitable for many diets. Our plant-based version, however, offers a healthier, more ethical, and equally flavorful alternative that appeals to a wide range of palates and dietary needs. By opting for a vegan filling, you’re not only reducing your environmental footprint but also embracing a meal packed with wholesome vegetables and plant-based protein, all without the heavy, sometimes greasy, feel of their non-vegan counterparts. These empanadas are a perfect example of how beloved traditional dishes can be beautifully reimagined for a modern, plant-forward lifestyle.
Furthermore, these baked vegan empanadas offer significant health advantages. Unlike deep-fried versions that soak up excessive oil, our recipe calls for baking, resulting in a lighter yet still crispy exterior. The filling, brimming with ingredients like black beans for protein and fiber, potatoes for comforting substance, and vibrant carrots and peas for essential vitamins and minerals, delivers a potent dose of nutrition. This makes them a fantastic option for anyone looking to incorporate more nutrient-dense meals into their diet without sacrificing the comfort and joy of a familiar classic. Their portability also makes them incredibly versatile, suitable for convenient meal prep, quick lunches on the go, a delightful appetizer, or a fulfilling main course at any gathering.
Unveiling the Excellence of This Recipe
Our vegan empanada recipe stands out for several compelling reasons, making it an essential addition to your culinary repertoire. We’ve meticulously crafted it to ensure both ease of preparation and an outcome that consistently impresses with its deliciousness and wholesome appeal.
- An Effortless Culinary Journey: Don’t be intimidated by the idea of making empanadas from scratch. This recipe meticulously guides you through each stage, making the entire process significantly simpler than you might anticipate. We’ve broken it down into three manageable, logical steps: first, preparing the pliable, flaky dough; next, crafting the aromatic and savory filling; and finally, assembling and baking these delightful pockets of flavor. The clear, concise instructions empower even novice bakers to achieve professional-looking and tasting results, transforming what might seem complex into an enjoyable and rewarding kitchen experience.
- A Healthier Indulgence You’ll Love: We firmly believe that delicious food can and should also be nutritious. These vegan empanadas are a perfect testament to that philosophy. Our plant-based filling is generously packed with fiber-rich vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, celery, and peas, alongside robust black beans that provide a significant boost of vegan protein. This combination ensures sustained energy and a wealth of essential nutrients. Crucially, instead of deep-frying, which adds unnecessary fat, we opt for baking. This method significantly reduces the oil content, offering a lighter, healthier alternative without compromising that desirable crispy exterior and satisfying texture. You can savor every single bite knowing you’re nourishing your body with wholesome, vibrant ingredients.
- Inclusive and Universally Appealing: Traditional empanadas often rely heavily on meat and cheese, which, while delicious for some, restrict them from many diets due to ethical, health, or allergy concerns. Our thoughtfully developed vegan rendition, however, opens the door to everyone. Free from all animal products, these empanadas are perfectly suited for vegans, vegetarians, and individuals with dairy or specific meat allergies. They are designed to be friendly to all sorts of diets, making them an ideal dish to prepare and share with diverse groups of friends and family. This ensures that absolutely no one misses out on the incredible taste, comforting warmth, and communal joy of homemade empanadas.
Expert Tips for Empanada Perfection
Achieving truly exceptional vegan empanadas involves a few key techniques and considerations that can elevate your homemade creations from good to absolutely spectacular. Heed these chef’s tips to ensure every batch you make is consistently impressive and perfectly delicious:
- Mastering the Dough: The Art of Avoiding Overworking: The paramount secret to a perfectly flaky, tender empanada crust lies in careful and minimal handling of the dough. It is absolutely crucial to avoid overworking or over-mixing your empanada dough. Excessive manipulation can cause the cold vegan butter to melt prematurely, which prevents the formation of those desirable flaky layers, and also activates too much gluten development, leading to a tough, less tender, and dense crust. To meticulously prevent this, work swiftly and efficiently with cold ingredients, ensuring that your vegan butter remains solid. Minimize direct heat exposure from your hands as much as possible. Using a food processor helps immensely in this regard, bringing the dough together quickly without excess warmth or handling. A light, gentle touch ensures that beautiful, melt-in-your-mouth flakiness that everyone craves in a great empanada.
- Freezing for Future Enjoyment and Convenience: These delightful vegan empanadas are an excellent candidate for meal prepping and can be easily frozen to enjoy at a later date, offering incredible convenience. You have the flexibility to freeze them either before baking (raw) or after they’ve been fully cooked and cooled. If you choose to freeze them raw, arrange the unbaked empanadas on a baking sheet and freeze until they are completely solid. Once frozen, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag, ensuring they are well-protected from freezer burn. When you’re ready to bake, remember to defrost them completely in your refrigerator overnight before following the baking instructions in this recipe. Baked and frozen empanadas can be reheated directly from frozen in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through and crisp.
- Versatile Serving Suggestions for Every Occasion: Empanadas are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in numerous delightful ways, making them suitable for almost any meal or snack. They are fantastic served simply by themselves as a satisfying snack, a light yet filling lunch on the go, or even a savory breakfast. For a more complete and vibrant meal experience, pair them with a side of your favorite zesty or smoky salsa – a classic pairing that adds a burst of freshness and a delightful kick. They also complement a hearty plate of fluffy rice and seasoned black beans beautifully, creating a balanced, wholesome, and truly filling dinner. These portable pockets are truly the perfect grab-and-go meal option; simply reheat them gently, and they’re ready to be savored any time, anywhere.
Explore More Delectable Vegan Recipes
If you’ve enjoyed the delightful flavors and satisfying textures of these homemade vegan empanadas, you’ll be thrilled to discover more of our innovative and delicious plant-based creations. Expand your vegan culinary repertoire and explore new favorites with these enticing recipes:
- 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
Irresistible Vegan Empanadas Recipe
Experience the ultimate comfort food with these homemade vegan empanadas! Featuring a perfectly flaky, golden crust and a richly seasoned plant-based filling, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavor and satisfaction in every bite. Easy to make and incredibly versatile, they’re perfect for any occasion.
Cheryl Malik
Ingredients
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
Optional Finishing Touch
- Neutral oil, for brushing tops of empanadas
Equipment Needed
- Food processor
- Plastic Wrap
- Small pot
- Colander
- Large skillet
- Rolling Pin
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Fork
- Basting brush (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
For the Empanada Dough
In a food processor, combine the all-purpose flour and salt. Pulse briefly until thoroughly mixed. Add the cold vegan butter, cut into small ¼-inch cubes, and the cold water to the food processor. Pulse several times until the mixture forms a coarse, crumbly texture, resembling wet sand. Be careful not to overmix; large pea-sized pieces of butter are desirable for achieving maximum flakiness in the crust.
Transfer the dough mixture from the food processor onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Gently press and form the dough into a large, cohesive ball or disc. Wrap it tightly with the plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This chilling period is crucial for the vegan butter to firm up and for the gluten in the flour to relax, which will ultimately result in a more manageable dough that is easier to roll out and yields a wonderfully flaky crust.
For the Empanada Filling
Fill a small pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil. Carefully add the ¼-inch cubed russet potatoes to the boiling water and cook until they are tender when pierced with a fork, which typically takes approximately 3 minutes. Once cooked, carefully pour the water and potatoes into a colander to thoroughly drain any excess liquid. Set the cooked potatoes aside to cool slightly while you prepare the rest of the filling ingredients.
In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the finely chopped onion, grated carrot, finely chopped celery, and minced garlic. Sauté these aromatic vegetables, stirring occasionally, until they become tender and wonderfully fragrant, which usually takes about 2 minutes. This step builds a foundational layer of flavor for your empanada filling.
To the skillet, add the drained and rinsed black beans, the pre-boiled potatoes, frozen peas, cumin, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and season generously with salt and black pepper to taste. Continue to cook, stirring everything together, until all the ingredients are thoroughly heated through and the spices become wonderfully fragrant. Remove the skillet from the heat and set the filling aside to cool completely before assembling the empanadas. Cooling the filling is essential to prevent the dough from becoming soggy during assembly.
Assembling and Baking the Empanadas
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper; this will prevent the empanadas from sticking and aid in easy cleanup. Set the prepared baking sheet aside as you continue with assembly.
Remove the chilled empanada dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface, use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a large, flat disc, aiming for an approximate thickness of ¼-inch. Using a round cookie cutter, pastry cutter, or even the rim of a glass, cut the dough into 4- to 5-inch circles. Carefully transfer these dough circles to your prepared baking sheet.
Place approximately 3 tablespoons of the cooled empanada filling onto one half of each dough circle. Be careful not to overfill, leaving a small border around the edge of the dough. Gently fold the other half of the dough circle over the filling, creating a classic half-moon shape. To seal the empanadas securely, use the tines of a fork to press firmly along the curved edges of each half-moon, creating a decorative and functional crimped seal that locks in the delicious filling.
For a beautiful golden-brown finish and a slightly crispier crust, lightly brush the tops of the empanadas with a neutral oil (like olive oil or vegetable oil) if desired. Place the baking sheet with the assembled empanadas into the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the crusts are gloriously golden brown and firm to the touch. Remove the empanadas from the oven, let them cool slightly on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then serve them warm, either on their own or with a delectable side of fresh salsa. Enjoy your homemade masterpiece!
Recipe Notes & Tips
- Make it Gluten-Free: For a gluten-free version of these delicious empanadas, simply substitute the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free all-purpose flour blend. Ensure your chosen blend contains xanthan gum or consider adding about ¼ teaspoon per cup of flour for the best results in dough elasticity and texture.
- Storage: Leftover baked empanadas can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For best texture when reheating, use an oven or an air fryer to crisp up the crust again.
- Make Ahead: Both the filling and the dough can be prepared in advance. The savory filling can be made a day ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The dough can also be made a day ahead and kept refrigerated, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap.
- Spice Level: Feel free to adjust the spice level of your filling. Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the filling mixture for an extra kick.
Nutrition Information (Approximate)
| Calories: 242 kcal
| Protein: 7 g
| Fat: 8 g
| Saturated Fat: 2 g
| Trans Fat: 1 g
| Total Carbs: 36 g
| Fiber: 5 g
| Sugar: 1 g
| Net Carbs: 31 g
| Vitamin C: 5 mg
| Sodium: 71 mg
| Potassium: 331 mg
| Calcium: 25 mg
| Iron: 3 mg
The 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 accurately determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the total weight of the finished recipe (excluding the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. The result will be the precise weight of one individual serving.