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Argentinian empanadas: Authentic recipe from Mendoza

Name: Argentinian empanadas: Authentic recipe from Mendoza
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 empanadas: Authentic recipe from Mendoza — 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 empanadas: Authentic recipe from Mendoza

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.