Brown the ground beef in a saute pan over medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Once the beef is browned, add the oregano and a pinch of salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper. Add the sliced onions and cumin and cook until the onions are translucent. Stir in the Spanish paprika. Simmer the filling over low heat for 15 minutes. Adjust the seasoning to taste. Let cool.
Spoon 2 tablespoons of the filling into a disc of empanada dough. Fold the disc in half and close it by tightly twisting the edges. Repeat with the remaining filling.
Heat the vegetable oil to 350 degrees F in a deep-fryer or heavy pot. In batches, fry the empanadas until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes.
Cook’s Note
You can make your own empanada dough if you prefer. However, most grocery stores sell premade empanada dough in the freezer section.
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This recipe was provided by a chef, restaurant or culinary professional. It has not been tested for home use.
Recipe courtesy of Manuel A. Marini, The Original Marini's Empanada House, Houston, TX
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