NATIONAL EMPANADA DAY – April 8
Sat Apr 8th

National Empanada Day

National Empanada Day is a celebration that occurs in a variety of ways each year on April 8th.. The word empanada comes from the Galician, Portuguese, and Spanish word em pandar, which means to wrap or coat in bread.

Empanadas are made by folding the dough or bread into a seasoned filling. The stuffed dough is then baked or fried, depending on the time of year. These delectable pastries feature a variety of options, much like hand pies. With meat, cheese, spinach, or fruit fillings, you can make your empanadas. However, they can be made with other ingredients as well.

Empanadas filled with seafood are included in a cookbook published in 1520 in Catalan by Ruperto de Nola.

If you've never had an empanada, you may be surprised how versatile they are. Different areas of the United States make them with their own style and flavors. Those are from various regions of the country. The dish, which is also available in the Southern and Southwestern United States, where an empanada is called a Creole empanada, is a savory dish. They're stuffed with seasoned pork, beef or chicken, and cheese in the half-circle flaky crust.

Empanadas transform in the southern region of the country. They fill these pastries with either fresh or reconstituted dry fruit, which is a little more on the sweeter side. Apples, apricots, peaches, or sweet potatoes are among the popular choices. The pies are crispy outer shell with piping hot fruit inside, and they are once baked.

Making empanadas for Christmas is a winter favorite in New Mexico's further west. They make sweetmeats that are similar to mincemeat, and they use ground pork, sugar, pinon nuts, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Everything is then baked in a tortilla-like dough and deep-fried in lard.

How to celebrate #nationalempanadaday..

  • s make this recipe. Make your own empanadas. You can choose from a variety of fillings or make one for everyone in the family. Everyone should try making the dough and filling them
  • Share your favorite empanada dishes
  • If you're doubting your dough-making skills, try frozen or canned dough. If you're cooking, be sure to post your recipes as well
  • Empanada recipes
  • On social media, use the hashtag #NationalEmpanadaDay to post

Empanada FAQ

Are empanadas and handpies the same thing? Q. Is empanadas and handpies the same thing?

A. They are similar in that they are pie-like pastries with fillings and fit in the hand.

Q. Can I use an egg wash on empanadas? Yes, yes. The empanada will have a crispy crust when it is brushed with egg wash.