Chilean Beef Empanadas
INGREDIENTS:
- For the Filling:
- 2 pounds of ground beef (90% Lean)
- 1 cup beef broth
- 3 large or 4 medium onions chopped into small cubes
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons red pepper or paprika or Merken (Chilean smoked chili)
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- salt and pepper
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Optional:
- 20 black olives
- 40 raisins
- 4 hard-boiled eggs
- For the dough:
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup of warm water
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 kilo or 2 pounds of all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 6.5 oz of melted shortening, warm
DIRECTIONS:
- For the Filling:
- Always prepare it the day before.
- In a large saucepan, heat the oil and fry the meat until lightly browned about 8 minutes. Add the paprika, salt, pepper, and cumin, and saute for a few minutes.
- Add the broth and simmer for 30 minutes over low heat.
- Add the onion, mix well, and cook over medium heat until the onion is tender, about 30 minutes.
- Add the flour and stir well and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Cook two more minutes. Cool and refrigerate.
- For the dough:
- Make a brine with the milk, water, and salt, and stir to dissolve the salt. Mix the flour and eggs in a large bowl or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and mix for a minute to incorporate.
- Add the melted shortening and work a little more. At this point, you will see only crumbs. To form the dough, start adding the brine with the mixer running on low speed until the dough is soft and flexible. If needed, keep adding water.
- Separate the dough into 20 portions and cover with a moist cloth.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Work each piece individually, rolling until thin, cut in a circle about 7″ and fill with two tablespoons of filling, a quarter of a hard-boiled egg, olives, and raisins if desired. Close by smearing the edge, pressing firmly, and making the folds. Brush with an egg wash before baking.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden.
- Serve hot.
© Recipe courtesy of Chilean Food & Garden.
MARCH WINE CLUB:

Andes Plateau
Andesita
Cabernet Sauvignon
Maule Valley, Chile
BOLD WINE STYLE
This is an elegant wine with red fruits, spices and black pepper notes. The palate shows great tannin structure and freshness that makes it vibrant and easy to drink. Thanks to its acidity, it becomes a versatile wine that can be combined with a wide variety of flavors and foods.
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Analysis: 13.2% alcohol / volume
pH: 3.52
Residual Sugar: 2.55
Ac. Total: 5.41
Vineyard Yield: 2 kg/plant
Planted Area: 3 hectares
Appellation: San Clemente, Maule Valley, Chile
Climate: Template temperatures that allow early harvests
Soils: Alluvial soils that have been transported by the river, containing gravel, sand and silt
Winemaker: Felipe Uribe
Harvests and Vinification:
The grapes are tasted and selected carefully. An early harvest allows the wines to achieve freshness and acidity. The process is made by hand, using 12 kilo boxes.
Aging and Storage:
The wines are aged for 10 months in nuetral oak barrels. Additionally we use the 20% of a 2nd hand un-toasted French oak foudre (large wooden vat that holds 3,000 liters). Afterward, the wine is storage for a minimum of 3 month to then be released to the market.
ABOUT THE WINERY:
The Andes Plateau is a family run winery with a drive to showcase wines from the Andes Mountains. Altitude determines the identity of their wines; not many producers are in the mountains due to a high risk of frost, yet the Andes Plateau winery believes the risk is worth the reward. They produce elegant and energetic expressions of each varietal, working with the complex geology of their vineyard locations. Learn more about the winery here.
Information © Andes Plateau – All Rights Reserved.
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