Empanaditas & Pastelitos [Recipe + Video] 12 Options

🧂 Ingredients

• 2 egg (medium)

  eggs and whites separated
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• 2 cups all-purpose flour

  plus extra for working the dough
• Empanada filling

  choose one from the list above the recipe
• 2 cups oil for frying

Instructions

• 1 Combine egg yolks, oil, salt, and baking powder. Once well combined, add the
  flour and mix.
  
  By this point, the dough will be crumbly and too dry. Start adding water one
  tablespoon at a time, combining until it forms a cohesive ball with the least
  amount of extra water possible. I used seven tablespoons in the end, but it
  varies sometimes.
• 2 Mix everything with your hands on a lightly floured surface until everything is
  well mixed, but just squeezing without folding (like playdoh). Add some flour to
  the dough if it is too sticky, or a bit of water if it is too dry
  
  Once the dough has the consistency of playdoh (One to two minutes at most) wrap,
  and let the dough rest for ten minutes.
• 3 Separate a small, golf-ball-sized piece of dough.
  
  On a lightly flour-dusted surface roll out the dough forming a small circle.
• 4 How to make make pastelitos:
  
  Cut out circles of about 2.5" [6.5 cm] in diameter. Paint the inside with egg
  white (which acts as glue so the layers don't separate).
  
  Place a tablespoon of the filling in the center of each circle, cover with
  another circle and seal the border by pressing it with a fork.
  
  How to make make empanadas:
  
  Cut out circles 4" [10 cm] in diameter. Paint the inside with egg white (which
  acts as glue so the layers don't separate).
  
  Place a tablespoon of the filling in the center of each circle, double over in a
  semi-circle, and seal the border by pressing it with a fork.
• 5 Heat oil over medium heat in a 1 qt [1lt] pot. Deep fry the pastelitos /
  empanaditas until they are golden brown on each side.
  
  Rest on a paper towel to drain excess oil before serving.

Nutrition Info