Pronunciation: [em-pah-NAH-dah]
Empanadas are fried or baked pastries stuffed with sweet or
savory fillings. These pastries are known throughout Spain, Portugal, the
Caribbean, Latin America, and the Philippines. Empanadas are made by rolling
out dough for a thin crust, placing filling such as chicken on the dough, and
folding into a half moon shape, pinch the edges to seal.
As more and more people explore Filipino food throughout the
United States, (Filipinos are the
second-largest Asian minority group in the United States), we often get the
question, “Are Empanadas really a dish of the Philippines?”
YES! We respond - empanadas are a delicious staple in the
Philippines, and now the recipe is distinctly Filipino with local flavors and
ingredients.
A brief history of
Empanadas:
Empanadas are thought to have originated in Spain (Galicia) and
Portugal. The name comes from the Spanish verb –
empanar – meaning to wrap or coat in bread.
Hand-held, individual
portioned, meat pies are found throughout history.
This style of food preparation became very popular for
practical use. For example, in desert climates and island inhabitants, these convenient meals helped solve the problem
of transporting food over long voyages and desert treks.
First mentioned in B.C. Persia, then later references of
hand-held pies include Greek stuffed dough meals, from there they went to
Armenia, Morocco and the Middle East, elaborated sheep meat and bulgur, and
known as Fatayer or esfiha.
Early documented use of “empanadas” comes during the late
Middle Ages (or Medieval Period), published in a
1520 Spanish cookbook shared how empanadas
were commonly made with seafood filling.
The popular dish was brought
to the Philippines by Spanish colonizers.
The first European expedition to explore the Philippine islands was that
led by Ferdinand Magellan, in the service of the king of Spain, March 16, 1521.
Filipino empanadas
have taken on their own identity, with local tropical ingredients, and
indigenous flavor profiles. Empanadas in the Philippines contain beef, pork or
chicken, potatoes, chopped onions, and raisins in a somewhat sweet, wheat flour
bread. Empanadas are either baked for a thin and crisp crust, or are fried for
a flaky treat. A new development in the Philippines, is the growth of dessert
empanada popularity with fun fillings like ube and mango.
Celebrate National
Empanada Day with a delicious, ready-made,
Chicken Empanadas from
Kusina. Made with
Ramar Foods family recipe, these Chicken
Empanadas are all natural, and have an organic, tender baked crust, that is a
delicate compliment to the sweet/savory Filipino filling.
Take on the day with a delicious meal to go, Empanadas have
been the choice of explorers and world leaders for centuries!
