Empanadas Chilenas de Queso Fritas

Name: Empanadas Chilenas de Queso Fritas
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Chilean
Ingredients: 3 cups All-Purpose Flour; 1 tsp Baking Powder; 1 cup Cheese Cubes; 1 whole Eggs; 2 tbsp Lard; 0.5 tsp Salt; 1 cup Whole Milk

Appetizer 🧄Dinner 🍽️Lunch 🥪Snack 🍿 Chilean 🇨🇱 Low-Sodium Sugar-Free Vegetarian 🥦Comfort-Food

Empanadas Chilenas de Queso Fritas feature a tender hot-milk dough encasing cubes of queso chanco that melt into a rich, gooey center. Fried until crisp and golden, they balance buttery pastry with a creamy, lightly nutty cheese flavor. Serve them hot as a party snack, game-day bite, or a comforting dinner appetizer with a tangy salsa.

Prep20 mins
Cook20 mins
Serves8
DifficultyMedium

1

Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Combine the lard and milk in a saucepan and heat until the milk is hot. Pour the hot milk into the flour mixture and stir until a dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.
2

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
3

Roll the dough out on a floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out 4-inch rounds. Brush the outer edges of each circle with beaten egg and add a small mound of cheese to the center. Fold each circle in half to make a half-moon and press the edges with your fingers or a fork to seal. Set the empanadas on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with the remaining egg.
4

Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
5

Alternatively, deep fry the empanadas in 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oil. If deep frying, do not brush the outsides of the empanadas with egg. Drain on paper towels.