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Argentinian Beef Empanadas with Mendoza Style Filling

Name: Argentinian Beef Empanadas with Mendoza Style Filling
Prep time: 55 min
Cook time: 165 min
Total time: 220 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: All-purpose flour, 4 cups; Lard or unsalted butter, chilled and diced, ¾ cup; Salt, 1 teaspoon; Cold water, 1 cup; Beef sirloin, finely hand-chopped, 500g; Olive oil, 2 tablespoons; Large onions, finely diced, 2; Red bell pepper, diced, 1; Hard-boiled eggs, chopped, 2; Smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon; Ground cumin, 1 teaspoon; Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; Egg (for egg wash), 1, beaten

Experience the traditional flavors of Mendoza with these authentic Argentinian empanadas featuring a savory beef and olive filling. This heritage recipe provides step-by-step instructions to help you achieve a perfectly flaky crust every time.

4.6(934 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·July 3, 2025

Argentinian Beef Empanadas with Mendoza Style Filling — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

55 min

Cook

2 h 45 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Dough

For the Beef Filling

For the Pastry Assembly

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 606 kcal
Protein: 21.9 g
Carbs: 52.3 g
Fat: 34.2 g
Fiber: 2.5 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 4844 kcal
Protein: 175.4 g
Carbs: 418 g
Fat: 273.5 g
Fiber: 20.2 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
All-purpose flour 4 cups	1824	52	384	4	12
Lard or unsalted butter, chilled and diced ¾ cup	1290	0	0	145	0
Salt 1 teaspoon	0	0	0	0	0
Cold water 1 cup	0	0	0	0	0
Beef sirloin, finely hand-chopped 500g	1130	100	0	80	0
Olive oil 2 tablespoons	240	0	0	28	0
Large onions, finely diced 2	88	2	22	0	4
Red bell pepper, diced 1	30	1	7	0	3
Hard-boiled eggs, chopped 2	156	14	2	11	0
Smoked paprika 1 teaspoon	6	0	1	0	1
Ground cumin 1 teaspoon	8	0.4	1	0.5	0.2
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0
Egg (for egg wash) 1, beaten	72	6	1	5	0

These nutrition facts are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Beef

1
Combine Spices and Beef
Mix the hand-chopped beef with smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt, and pepper.
2
Chill the Beef
Let the meat marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
3
Stir to Coat
Stir occasionally to evenly coat the beef.

Preparing the Dough

1
Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, mix flour and salt.
2
Incorporate Fat
Add diced lard or butter, mixing until the texture resembles coarse crumbs.
3
Form the Dough
Gradually add cold water, kneading until a smooth dough forms. Chill for 30 minutes.
Tip: Do not overwork the dough to avoid toughening. Chill the dough and filling separately for ease when shaping the empanadas.

How to Make Argentinian Beef Empanadas with Mendoza Style Filling

Total time: 3 h 40 min · Yields 8 servings

1
Sautéing the Vegetables
Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat, cook onions and bell peppers until softened.
2
Cooking the Beef
Add marinated beef to the pan and cook until browned and fully cooked. Mix in the chopped eggs and allow to cool.
3
Assembling the Empanadas
Roll out the dough, cut circles, and fill with beef mixture. Fold and seal with a fork. Brush with egg wash.