Empanadas de Espinaca (Spinach Empanadas)

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Baked Empanadas

Baked Empanadas

You’ve heard all your friends talk about how much they love empanadas, specially beef empanadas, but you are missing out because you are vegetarian. Well, these here empanadas use a savory spinach filling that is a very close second to the savory beef filling. Unless you want dessert, then you can skip both the beef and spinach and just make an apple empanada. Either way, you win.

INGREDIENTS FOR SPINACH FILLING
  • 3/4 lb. spinach leaves, destemmed
  • 1 yellow onion, peeled and diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 6 tablespoons shredded parmesan
INGREDIENTS FOR DOUGH
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1/2 cup flour for rolling the dough
INGREDIENTS FOR GLAZE
  • 1 egg and an additional egg yolk
  • 1 tablespoon cold water

In addition to the ingredients above, you’ll need a skillet and spoon to sauté the filling, a bowl for the filling, a bowl to mix the dough, a working surface to roll the dough, and a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to bake the empanadas.

PREPARING THE FILLING
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F
  2. Prepare sofrito by sautéing onions and garlic in a skillet with oil over medium to high heat
  3. Season with salt and pepper, and sauté until onions are translucent
  4. Mix in spinach, stir, and continue to sauté until the spinach is wilted and reduced
  5. Remove from heat, transfer to a bowl, and set aside
  6. Mix in pine nuts and parmesan
PREPARING THE DOUGH
  1. Sift the flour into a bowl
  2. Add the salt, butter, white wine vinegar, egg yolks, and mix well by hand
  3. Add 5 tablespoons cold water and continue to mix and shape the dough
  4. Add another 4 tablespoons cold water and continue to shape the dough until it forms a firm ball
  5. Transfer ball of dough to a working surface
  6. Roll the dough into a long tube and cut into 12 even pieces
  7. Flour the working surface and roll each piece into a rough circular shape
  8. Cut each rough circular shape with a 6” round dough cutter, and set aside each dough circle
ASSEMBLING AND BAKING THE EMPANADAS
  1. Scoop a heaping tablespoon of filling on the center of each dough circle
  2. Brush the edge of each dough circle with water
  3. Fold the dough circle in half, and seal the edge by pressing firmly with your fingers and a fork
  4. Assemble the empanadas in a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
  5. Prick the top of each empanada with a fork, and brush each empanada with egg glaze
  6. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until golden brown
SERVINGS

12 servings.

NOTES

When preparing the dough, add more water or flour if needed in order to obtain a firm ball that you can roll without being too sticky or dry.