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Mexican empanadas on a black plate and topped with pico de gallo, lettuce, and crema
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4.08 from 14 votes

Authentic Mexican Fried Empanadas

Continue reading to find out how to make authentic Mexican fried empanadas which is a popular street food throughout Mexico and that is easier to make than you might think. 
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: empanadas
Servings: 12 Empanadas
Calories: 418kcal
Author: Charbel Barker

Ingredients

For the Masa

  • 1 Lb Prepared Corn Masa
  • 1 Cup All Purpose Flour
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • 2 Cups Oil For frying

For the Ground Beef Filling

  • 1 Lb Ground Beef
  • 1/4 Onion Finely Chopped
  • 1/4 bunch Cilantro Finely Chopped
  • 1 Tomato Finely Chopped
  • 1 Tsp Salt
  • 1 Tsp Cumin
  • 1/2 Tsp Pepper
  • 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 Tsp Lemon Pepper
  • 1 Tsp Paprika

For Cheese Filled Empanadas

  • 2 Cups Queso de Oaxaca or other melting cheese

Instructions

For the Masa and Empanadas

  • Add the prepared masa to a large bowl and then add the flour, salt, and a little bit of the water.
  • Stir, adding more water until you reach the desired consistency. It should be thick enough that it doesn't break up when you make a tortilla, but thin enough that it won't take too long to cook through. See images
    empanada on a tortilla press before frying it
  • Form balls with about 1/4 cup of masa and flatten the tortilla using a tortilla press with plastic wrap on the top and bottom. Add the filling (ground beef or cheese) and fold over using the plastic wrap to assist and seal the edges with your fingers or a fork.
  • Heat oil to about 350-365 degrees fahrenheit in a pot or a frying pan and add the empanadas 1 or 2 at a time. You will fry the empanadas for approximately 3-5 minutes each until golden brown.
  • Serve with lettuce, pico de gallo, salsa, and crema.

For the Ground Beef

  • Heat the ground beef and add the rest of the ingredients. Cook until cooked through, adjusting seasonings to taste.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Empanada | Calories: 418kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 769mg | Potassium: 253mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 271IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 4mg
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