If you are a fan of siopao, like eating meat buns, and enjoy munching on pocket pies, then you will definitely need to add empanadas to your list. An empanada is a pastry that is filled with a variety of fillings, with some having pork or chicken in them, and others having cheese, seafood, and even vegetables in them. The choice of filling is dependent on whoever is making this pastry, but the most common ones you will find being sold in the country are those that are filled with pork or chicken.
These are usually fried in hot oil, and have a puff-pastry-like texture. The usual form these come in is in the shape of a half-moon, with a crimped or braided edge crust which is usually very crisp. These can also be baked, with more of a pie-like consistency to it and a glossy, egg-washed top.
These are usually popular in countries that have rather Spanish heritage, like the Philippines and many countries in Latin America. This may be because this particular pastry is said to trace its roots to Portugal and Spain. The name itself, in fact, stems from the Spanish word “empanar”, which means “to wrap in bread”, which is generally what an empanada is.
The empanada was brought to the Latin American countries and to the Philippines by Spanish conquistadors, and these popularly handy snacks now have their localized versions in these countries. In Argentina for example, you will find local versions filled with a sweet corn and white sauce mixture called homita, while in Cuba, ground beef is a popular empanada filling.
The Spanish conquered countries are not the only ones that have these pocket pies on their menus of favorite things to eat, however. Other countries like Italy and even countries in the Middle East have their variations to this as well. Some examples that can be called cousins of the empanada include calzones, samosas, and the meat pies that can be found all across Europe.
These days, in the Philippines, you will find empanadas in many bakeshops and bakeries. Some are baked, but the majority are fried, as this is the easier method of cooking up these pastries. Most of these use standard pastry that is also used to create pies with, and these are usually sold for morning or afternoon snacks. The usual size of these pastries being sold in the country are small enough to fit in a person’s palm and are sometimes called pocket pies, due to the fact that they are pocket-sized and are also pastry pockets filled with goodness.
