Juicy Argentine Hand-Cut Beef Empanadas (Salteñas)
Mise en Place / Ingredients[16]
- 1.5 lbs Tender beef sirloin or flank, hand-chopped into tiny cubes
- 16 discs Criollo empanada pastry dough rounds (La Salteña)
- 1 cup Yukon Gold potato, peeled, par-boiled, and cut into tiny 1/4-inch cubes
- 2 large White onions, finely diced
- 0.5 whole Red bell pepper, finely diced
- 2 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tbsp Pure rendered beef tallow or pork lard
- 0.5 cup Warm savory beef broth
- 1 tbsp Sweet smoked paprika (pimentón dulce) (Badia)
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 0.5 tsp Crushed red chili flakes (ají molido)
- 1.5 tsp Fine sea or kosher salt
- 0.5 tsp Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups Green scallions (cebolleta), thinly sliced
- 3 whole Hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- 1 whole Large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
🛒 US Supermarket Brand Guide
Authentic Argentine pastry with perfect blister in hot ovens. • 📍 Hispanic freezer case.
Cooking Sequence & Checkpoints
Cook diced white onions, red bell pepper, and garlic in rendered tallow until soft. Add hand-cut beef, pimentón dulce, cumin, chili flakes, salt, black pepper, beef broth, and cubed boiled potatoes; cook 3 minutes over high heat just until beef is seared.
✓ Checkpoint: Juicy lightly cooked beef in savory broth.
Remove from heat and top with sliced green scallions and chopped hard-boiled eggs. Chill in the refrigerator for 3 hours (180 minutes restTime) until the fat and broth solidify.
✓ Checkpoint: Firm, cold, manageable filling.
Spoon 2 tbsp of cold filling into the center of each pastry disc, moisten the rims, fold into half-moons, and crimp with a traditional braided repulgue.
✓ Checkpoint: Tightly braided half-moon pockets.
Brush with beaten egg wash and bake at 450°F (230°C) for 15 minutes until blistered, golden, and ≥160°F (71°C) inside.
✓ Checkpoint: Golden blistered pastry bursting with broth.
🔬 Why It Works:
Hand-Cut Cubes & Solidified Broth: Chilled rendered fat, beef broth, and hand-cut beef turn into bubbling natural juice when baked at high heat.
⚠️ Troubleshooting:
Empanadas leak in the oven: Always chill filling until firm and press edges tightly before braiding.