Recipe archive
Recipe archive
The Melting Pot
Empanadas hero image coming soon
1990-2009 - Puerto Rican, Chamorro, Filipino-American, and Virgin Islands communities.
Empanadas are baked or fried dough pockets filled with savory or sweet mixtures, widely enjoyed in Puerto Rican, Chamorro, Filipino-American, and Virgin Islands communities across US territories and suburbs. They serve as portable meals or snacks showcasing diverse immigrant culinary heritages.
Difficulty
Medium
Prep time
45 minutes
Cook time
20 minutes
Total time
1 hour 5 minutes
Servings
6-8
Region
Territories and Island America
Era introduced
1990-2009
Introduced by
Puerto Rican, Chamorro, Filipino-American, and Virgin Islands communities.
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Empanadas traverse numerous cultural traditions in US territories and immigrant suburbs, reflecting a melding of Latin American, Pacific Islander, and Filipino culinary influences. These stuffed pastries serve as convenient, flavorful foods at community celebrations and family meals. Variations in dough and fillings mirror the multicultural makeup of American territories and the global heritage of their populations.
Recipe adapted from multiple US territorial and immigrant variations; fillings vary culturally.
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