Tag: nut-free

Being Argentinean and living in Italy, we really miss the great “Empanadas Argentinas.” These vegan empanadas are delicious and very easy to make; you will feel that you have taken a quick trip to Argentina.

There are many different kinds of these puffy savory pastries. In a way, they are very close to the pizzas as the principle for making empanadas is the same: dough plus getting creative with the garnishing/filling.

Making Vegan Empanadas

• Make the dough as directed below. You can also use pre-bought puff pastry.
• Make the filling.
• Assemble the empanadas.
• Bake.
• Serve.

When making empanadas, you need to think about three things that differentiate the different types you can find typically in Argentina: the kind of dough, the cooking method, and the filling.

If you mix these three variables, you can find an endless array of possibilities.

Let’s start with the simplest of the variables.

Cooking Method

Fried vs. Oven Baked. Although fried empanadas are quite common, they have become less common day by day. In our point of view for two reasons:

• It is widespread to ask for empanadas’ deliveries, and just as any other fried delivered good, will not reach its destiny as crispy as they should.

• Fried empanadas are not very healthy. They are usually fried in pork’s fat, and nowadays, people are always looking for healthier comfort food versions. Still, they widely consumed when eating out, and they naturally will reach your mouth crispy.

The Empanadas Dough

You can find mainly two kinds of doughs, puff pastry, and regular pastry.

This decision is harder to make, and we like both very much; it is really just up to what you feel like having. We vary amongst these types, depending on our mood.

Simple and Tasty Empanadas Dough: All-purpose flower, Olive Oil and Salt.

Also, in the north of Argentina, Tucuman’s empanadas use pork’s fat to make the dough. Being plant-based, we just limit our consumption of animal fats. We have tried them before, but in my opinion, there is nothing to miss from porcine fat; also, they are obviously, less healthy.

The Best Empanadas filling

In every Empanada Shop, they have at least five kinds of fillings. The ones that you will always find are beef, ham and cheese, Caprese, humita (sweet corn), and Roquefort (blue cheese). But most empanadas shops have about ten types or more.

In the case of empanadas, unlike pizzas, cheese is not an essential component. Certain filings include cheese such as the: ham and cheese, onions and cheese kind, or Caprese (cheese, basil, and tomato).

Another two practical aspects

The Folding

Since it is common to eat more than one kind of empanadas as part of the same meal, the cue to differentiate them from the outside is the folding technique (repulgue). Also, different marks work.

I will show how to make the repulgue, but the easiest way to get it right for a beginner is to use a fork to put pressure on the border and close them.

How many Vegan Empanadas should you calculate for each person?

If you’re like us, empanadas are good any time of the day, they are both a staple appetizer and a great option for any given lunch or dinner with family or friends. And for a while now, we’ve been craving some as we miss them so much!

For a full dinner or lunch: four empanadas.

Not that hungry: three empanadas.

On a diet? two empanadas.

As an appetizer: one empanada.

Notes (if using pre-made puff pastry):

• You can get about seven medium discs out of one disc.
• Take it out of the fridge just right before cutting and using it.

So, out of all this variety, what kind of vegan empanadas are we having here?

For these easy empanadas, I am using Tucuman Style Empanada’s seasonings (Empanadas Tucumanas), which typically include cumin, paprika, olives, and raisins.  

These lentil empanadas are a veganized version, so we use olive oil instead of porcine fat, lentils instead of pork, and we are not using eggs which the Tucuman version usually includes.

Also, we make a vegan empanada dough using olive oil instead of pork fat.

Sauces or no Sauces on your Empanadas?

It is not necessary and it is not common. If you go to a Restaurant, typically a Meat restaurant would Maybe have a “Chimichurri” or “Provenzal” sauce, which some people will put on top.

There is a large community of Argentineans living in Mexico, so this puffy pastries have become quite common there luckily.

While we lived there, we noticed that with every Empanadas Delivery we would also get some extra sauces, but yes is Mexico! The land of sauces. Feel free to try it.

Lentil Empanadas Ingredients

Ready for the cooking empanadas?

Please let us know which is your favorite and what type of empanadas you find in your region.

Check out these Argentinean Cuisine Favorites:

Mom’s Pickled Eggplants

Carrot Savory Tart (Pie)

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!