Last Updated on July 21, 2019 by Ed Joven
How to make Filipino Beef Empanada
Empanada is a savory turnover filled with meat that trace their origins to Galicia (Spain) and Portugal. Empanada is a Spanish word meaning meat pie. Filipino Empanadas are either baked or fried like the Vigan Empanadas from the northern part of the Philippines. Empanadas make great appetizers and finger foods for a meal on the go.
In this Filipino Beef Empanada we used lean ground beef, you can also use shredded beef but it takes longer to prepare or substitute any filling you like. Just like the famous Chicken Empanada, the Beef is cooked with vegetables like potatoes, bell pepper and green peas, with raisins.
Filipino Beef Empanada Ingredients: |
For Beef Empanada Filling:
- 1 tbsp Canola or vegetable oil
- 1/2 kilo Lean Ground beef, preferably 85% lean
- 1/2 cup onion , diced
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 2 cups Potato, diced
- 1/2 cup green peas
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 3 Tbsp cane vinegar
- 1 Chorizo Bilbao, diced (optional)
- Salt to taste
- 2 egg whites, beaten for sealing the empanadas
- 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten for brushing
For Dough/Crust :
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 4 tbsp. sugar
- ½ cup butter, chilled & cubes
- ½ cup shortening
- 6-7 tbsp. icy cold water
Beef Empanada Instructions: |
To make the Empanada Filling:
- In a large pan over medium heat, heat the oil.
- Saute the onions and carrots until the vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes.
- Raise the heat to medium-high and cook the ground beef and chorizo bilbao until the meat has browned, about 5 minutes.
- Add the Potatoes, soy sauce, white wine, vinegar, and raisins.
- Reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook until the potatoes have softened, about 30 minutes.
- Add the green peas and heat just to cook through, about a few minutes.
- Taste and add more salt to taste.
To make the Empanada Crust:
- Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together in a bowl. Add in chilled and cubes butter and lard or vegetable shortening. Using a fork or hand pinch together until it forms a crumb. Add ice cold water 1 tablespoon at a time and mix well. Knead the dough for 3 minutes and form a ball.
- Let it rest for 15 minutes before using. Roll out dough on a floured surface and cut dough into your desired size, using empanada cutter, or a cookie cutter or any available round cutter you have.
- Place filling in the center and fold dough over to the opposite side. Crimp the dough with fork or with your fingers to seal the edges and repeat procedure until done. Place chicken empanada on a baking tray, prick each empanada with fork and brush with egg wash.
- Bake in a preheated oven 375F, for about 30-40 minutes or until lightly brown.
- Time varies depend on the size of your empanada.
- Let them cool slightly before serving them warm.
This Beef Empanada Recipe is a great appetizer and finger food for a meal on the go.
I tried this recipe today and I was delighted with the outcome. My husband is happy, this is his favorite empanadas. My cousin helped me and my dough press is awesome! Thank you for the recipe. More yummy pinoy recipe to come!
Hi Rogslyn,
Thank you for your feedback and for supporting our Filipino Food site… Keep on coming back!
God Bless!
I tried several of your recipes that are my favorite foods that you posted here, and all of them I tried were successful very delicious to the point na wala talaga akong masabi kundi MASARAP…TALAGA!!! all your recipes posted here comes out delicious after cooking…so I just wonder where you get the exact measurements of recipes. Do you have a major source where you get the exact measurements or some people contributes to this site and you pick the best taste before you post? Im just really really curios
Cooking is my passion thing is I never got to use this half my life only now am 50 and also found this site 2 years ago and my interest sparked when I tried a couple of your recipe i got here and were successful now I really want to master my favorite dish and make it into perfection. So thank you very much guys who runs and own this website. You woke up the hidden chef in me becoz of you Im now considering to use and practice my talent.
The next line up of foods here I want to make is Empanada and Siopao.. and i will see how it will be. But I trust this site hence binabalikbalikan ko. I already made a booklet out of my tried recipes I make it as a guide everytime I cook my choice food. Hope you will not get tired posting.
I have a request though, I hope you can post TORTA recipe the torta that barrio folks serve as sweets during barrio fiestas. I really like to have a torta recipe. I think its a local muffin Filipinos grew up with but long time forgotten i want to revive it through this site. I want a special torta recipe if possible.
Thank you very much.
Sounds hearty and savory. The crust looks so flaky good!
This looks like a delicious, on the go kind of meal. Thanks for a great recipe!
This is a great recipe thanks so much
I purchased empanada presses from Tupperware & haven’t figured out what to do with them. Thank you for the recipe! I have lots of ideas now!!
I looooooove empanadas, something about those little crispy meat filled pies. These look absolutely delicious, and Ill have to make these one time, maybe try and impress my inlaws.
This looks so delicious! My hubby would love these.
I have made Mexican empanadas and the similarity of the dish will make it easier to introduce something new to my family.
These look really yummy! I’m not the best cook, so I can’t imagine mine will look as lovely as the picture, but I think I’ll give it a shot! Thanks for the recipe!
Wow, these look amazing. I love that they have chorizo. I love Chorizo
I’m looking for some Superbowl recipes and these will be great!
The empanada sure look good! I lived in the PI back in the 70’s when Clark Air Base was still open. I was missing the food there
WOW. This was an awesome recipe. I brought it to a potluck party had rave reviews even with my Philipino friends. They loved it and I loved that they loved it!
They look absolutely amazing. I don’t believe I have ever had an empanada and I def. have never made them but now I want to. I think my family would love them and it’s always nice to give them something different.
All I can say is YUM!!! Thanks for the recipe.
Thank so much! I have been looking for something new to fix for dinner! I really want to say that I love this site and all the recipes that you have to offer. It’s amazing! I hope that I get some time to go back through and find some more! 🙂 Love it!
These sound delicious and I am printing this recipe- I hope I can do it!
What a yummy recipe. I know my kids would love this. I’m going to try original and double the filling and I’m going to use extra with prepaid crust to save time for after school snack. Thanks so much!
I americanize it by leaving out the raisins and add additional potatoes.
These look amazing, a definite must try!!
They look so yummy! I think my clan would love these!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Empanadas when they’re done right!!! I have never tried making them home but this recipe looks great 🙂
I love recipes and collect cookbooks. I am always looking for new foods and recipes. I have never made beef empanada but would like to try to make them. thanks for the recipes
Those look delicous!
I’m not big on trying new recipes. However, this recipe sounds really delicious and think I will give it a try. Thanks.
Great recipe. Would love to try it.
Sounds great. Can’t wait to try it.
Oh my goodness! These look AWESOME!!!! It seems like I will be able to follow your recipe easily enough. Thanks for posting!
Pinning this to make later – the combination of flavours sounds delicious!
these look heavenly and now I just need to get my daughter to make them for me lol
this post is teasing me…i am currently pregnant and my mouth is getting all watery from the pictures :P….i need to start making them asap
I have never had emphanadas. These look really good, will have to get ingredients and make this weekend. Thank you
looks delicious
I have had one of these before ,yummy but I have never had the recipe. Thank you .cant wait to try it
Oh man these look good! I didn’t realize there was a difference between spanish and filipino empanadas. Can’t wait to try these! And I was just at a playgroup the other day and the moms were all talking about lumpia, so I’ll have to try that too.
This sounds like a winner! Must try.
Delicious! can’t wait to make this and the lumpia!
I could really go for a couple empanadas and a beverage like the one in your photo right about now….drool….;)
The Beef Empanada’s sound great. The recipe is a little long and complicated, but it looks like it’s worth the time.,Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, it’s midnight and now I’m hungry, raiding refridgerator..LOL
This dish looks so good. I am going to go get the ingredients and try it out. Ill let you know how it turns out lol. Thanks again
these sound really good, and would be a good switch up from our usual pretty boring menu! thank you!
These look delicious! I’ll have to give them a try, I’m sure my kids would love them, too! Thanks for the great recipe! I’m going to check out your other recipes, too!
OMG! These emphanadas look out of this world! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Uy, another recipe we can try.. Sayang di umabot before the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Must try to cook this on my own one of these days.
These sound really good, I’m going to have to try them.
Your Pinoy Beef Empanada and San Miguel Beer is an unbeatable tandem 🙂 Can I also deep fry this recipe? Thanks!