Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (2024)

  • Recipes By Region
  • Latin American Food
  • South American Food
  • South American Appetizers

By

Marian Blazes

Marian Blazes

Marian Blazes is a freelance writer and recipe developer with a passion for South American food. She wrote a cookbook focusing on the cuisine of Brazil.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Updated on 07/28/21

Tested by

Danielle Centoni

Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (1)

Tested byDanielle Centoni

Danielle is a James Beard Award-winning food writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

(267)

Write a Review

Prep: 35 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Chill : 60 mins

Total: 2 hrs 5 mins

Servings: 18 servings

Yield: 18 empanadas

You can find as many types of empanadas as cooks in the world. These turnovers are a flavorful portable meal that can be packed with local ingredients. And while empanadas are great as appetizers, many countries in Latin America have a bigger version that can be served as a main dish. Empanadas de pino, one of the most popular in Chile, are an example of a thick, big, and generously stuffed empanada.

From the Mapuche term "pirru," which refers to the onion and beef mixture, "pino" became the name for these marvelous crispy empanadas. Although for outsiders, a filling of beef, raisins, onions, olives, and hard-boiled eggs seems like something unusual, take our word for it. They are amazing.

An easy-to-make empanada dough wraps these savory treats, and both the dough and filling can be made the day before and kept refrigerated until it's time to assemble. Serve with pebre for a traditional Chilean meal.

Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (2)

"Although making hand pies is a lot of hands-on work, you can break this recipe down over the course of several days. The dough is such a dream to work with, you don't have to worry about keeping it chilled or handling it carefully. The resulting empanadas were rich and delicious—a definite crowd pleaser." —Danielle Centoni

Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (3)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

For the Empanada Dough:

  • 4 cups flour

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

  • 3 tablespoons sugar

  • 12 tablespoons chilled lard, or vegetable shortening

  • 2 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter

  • 2 egg yolks

  • 1 cup water

For the Beef Filling:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 3 large onions, finely chopped

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 pound ground beef

  • 2 teaspoons cumin

  • 1 teaspoon chili powder

  • 1 tablespoon paprika

  • 1 cube beef bouillon

  • 1/4 cup hot water

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 2 tablespoons flour

  • 1/2 cup raisins

  • 1/2 cup black olives, chopped

For Assembly:

  • 2hard-boiled eggs, sliced

  • 1 egg yolk

  • 2 tablespoons milk

Steps to Make It

Make the Dough

  1. Gather the dough ingredients.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (4)

  2. Sift the flour into a bowl and then stir in 1 teaspoon of the salt and all of the sugar.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (5)

  3. Mix the butter and shortening (or lard) into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter, or with two knives, until fairly well incorporated.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (6)

  4. Whisk the egg yolks with 1 cup of water.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (7)

  5. Stir in 1/2 cup of the water-egg mixture, a little bit at a time, until the dough starts to come together smoothly.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (8)

  6. Keep kneading the dough, adding more of the water-egg mixture as needed. A few tablespoons of extra water may be needed. The dough will become smooth, although somewhat soggy until it has thoroughly chilled.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (9)

  7. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 1hour. The dough can also be kept in the fridge for up to two days. When ready to use, the dough should be soft and smooth, not elastic. When poking a hole in the dough with a finger, the indentation should remain. Reserve.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (10)

Prepare the Beef Filling

  1. Gather the filling ingredients.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (11)

  2. Heat the vegetable oil and butterin a skillet over medium-low heat.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (12)

  3. Add the chopped onions and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions aresoftened and fragrant.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (13)

  4. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (14)

  5. Add the ground beef, cumin, chili powder, paprika, beef bouillon (dissolved in the hot water), and salt and pepper to taste.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (15)

  6. Cook the beef, stirring and crumbling the meat with a spatula, until well-browned.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (16)

  7. Add the flour and continue to cook for 2 to 3minutes.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (17)

  8. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir the raisins and black olives into the beef mixture.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (18)

  9. Let the filling cool completely. The filling will keep up for up to two days in the refrigerator.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (19)

Assemble the Empanadas

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (20)

  2. Preheat the oven to 350 F and grab a baking sheet.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (21)

  3. Separate the empanada dough into golf-ball-size pieces and roll into smooth balls.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (22)

  4. Let the dough balls rest for 5 minutes.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (23)

  5. Roll each ball of dough on a floured surface into a 6-inch circle of about 1/4-inch in thickness.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (24)

  6. Add 1 tablespoon of the ​beef fillingandone slice of hardboiled egg into the middle of the circle.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (25)

  7. Brush the edges with water and fold the pastry in half over the filling to make a semi-circle. Seal the edges by pressing down with fingers.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (26)

  8. Brush the sealed edge lightly with water, then turn the edge toward the middle and press with fingers to seal.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (27)

  9. Mix the egg yolk with 2 tablespoons of milk and brush the empanadas with the mixture.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (28)

  10. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.

    Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (29)

Can I Freeze Empanadas de Pino?

You can freeze these delicious empanadas once they're assembled. Choose to freeze them with the egg wash on or without. Simply place the empanadas on a baking tray and freeze horizontally for at least 6 hours before transferring them into freezer bags. If you freeze them together they will stick to each other, thus freezing them individually beforehand guarantees they'll keep their shape. Keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

For cooking, thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes. Add the egg wash if you froze them without, and bake them at 350 F for 35 to 40 minutes until golden brown.

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs poses a risk of food-borne illness.

Empanadas de Pollo (Chicken Empanadas)

  • South American Appetizers
  • Beef Mains
  • Latin American Food
  • South American Food
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
351Calories
20g Fat
31g Carbs
13g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 18
Amount per serving
Calories351
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g25%
Saturated Fat 7g37%
Cholesterol 110mg37%
Sodium 339mg15%
Total Carbohydrate 31g11%
Dietary Fiber 2g6%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 13g
Vitamin C 1mg7%
Calcium 39mg3%
Iron 3mg16%
Potassium 236mg5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • Empanadas
  • snack
  • latin
  • back to school

Rate This Recipe

I don't like this at all.It's not the worst.Sure, this will do.I'm a fan—would recommend.Amazing! I love it!Thanks for your rating!

Chilean Empanadas de Pino Recipe (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Golda Nolan II

Last Updated:

Views: 5604

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Golda Nolan II

Birthday: 1998-05-14

Address: Suite 369 9754 Roberts Pines, West Benitaburgh, NM 69180-7958

Phone: +522993866487

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Shopping, Quilting, Cooking, Homebrewing, Leather crafting, Pet

Introduction: My name is Golda Nolan II, I am a thoughtful, clever, cute, jolly, brave, powerful, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.