Fast Uruguayan/Argentine ground beef empanadas

Empanadas are a very popular food in South America, they are fun and easy to make. 
My kids love to help make them, they actually like to take them to school for lunch and that doesn't happen very often-they are very attached their PB &J sandwich... They even take extra ones for friends, not ashamed of taking Mom's Uruguayan food to school at all when it comes to empanadas!

Remember "Moose Kaka" from My Big fat Greek wedding?  None of that happening here ha!

They are versatile and can be made really quick if you need a fast dinner or appetizer.  To be honest, we usually fill them up with ham a shredded cheese and go, but they can be filled with anything from egg, cheese and bacon for a breakfast version, chicken, cheese and spinach, etc...

We love the beef filling, our absolute family favorite.

I get the pre-made empanada dough discs, always have these guys in my fridge, total lifesavers!!

                                                 Homemade dough recipe coming soon!

Get these at the Latino store, some grocery stores have in the freezer aisle (the GOYA brand) or even the Mexican stores carry "Tapas para Empanadas", my favorite brand is "La Saltena"

Ground beef filling:

Ingredients:

      1 tablespoon olive oil      

1 small onion, chopped      

1 small green bell pepper, chopped      

1 pound ground beef            

3/4 cup green olives, sliced (optional)     

3/4 cup raisins (optional)  
1/2 cup parmesan cheese   

Salt and pepper     

3 large eggs, boiled and cut up 



1. Heat a large pan over medium heat, swirl in the olive oil. Add the onion and bell pepper, saute until the onion is translucent for 3 to 4 minutes. Raise the heat to high and add the beef. Cook, stirring constantly to brown, about 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Stir in the olives, raisins, salt, pepper. Cook until the meat is golden brown, about 5 more minutes, add the eggs.
3. Drain any remaining liquid and cool the mixture completely.

Make the empanadas

1. Fill the pre-made dough with a spoonful of beef filling (or for a really easy filling, cut up sliced ham and shredded cheese).  Place filling on the center of the dough disc, wet edges with water and fold disc in half forming a semicircle, fold over edges.
   
   
   
   
2. Grease baking sheet or line with parchment paper. 
3. Place each empanada on the baking sheet and pierce each one with a fork a couple of times. 
4. Crack 1 egg in a small bowl and beat it lightly (to create an egg wash) brush each empanada with the egg wash.  This helps give each empanada the golden brown color! 
5. (Optional) In our family we like to sprinkle a little with sugar over the top of each empanada, or you can also sprinkle a little shredded parmesan cheese!
6. Preheat oven to 375 Fahrenheit.  Bake for 30 min until tops are golden brown.  Serve with a green salad for a great lunch or dinner.