Description
Latkes, sufganiyot… but why stop there? This Chanukah, bring a new spin to the Festival of Lights with ooey-gooey, cheese-filled Cheesy Empanadas that will melt hearts and light up your table! These empanadas are fried to golden brown perfection, filled with fresh mozzarella and tangy goat cheese for the perfect blend of cheesy flavor. Dip them in your favorite marinara, take a bite and close your eyes to savor the flavor and think about the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days!
Ingredients
For the Empanada Dough
- 2 cups pre-cooked corn flour/meal (like PAN)
- 2 cups water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
For the Cheesy Filling
- 2–3 ounces goat cheese, cut into 12 pieces
- 12 ounces fresh mozzarella (pearls)
To finish
- high smoke point oil for frying, like peanut or avocado
- marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
For the Empanada Dough
- In a large bowl whisk together the corn meal, salt and baking powder.
- Add the water and oil and knead until a soft dough ball forms. Allow the dough to rest for five minutes.
- Divide the dough into 12 pieces, then roll those into balls.
For the Cheesy Filling
- Flatten a dough ball in your hand until it’s a circle around 1/8-inch thick.
- Place 1 ounce of fresh mozzarella (3 balls) and a piece of goat cheese in the center of the dough.
- Fold the dough over the filling and tightly press the edges together to seal.
- Repeat with the remaining dough.
To finish
- Line a large baking sheet with paper towels. Set aside.
- Heat around 3 inches of oil in a large sauté pan over medium/high heat.
- Carefully place 3 empanadas in the skillet, and fry on both sides until golden brown then place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Repeat with the remaining empanadas.
- Serve hot with marinara sauce for dipping.
Equipment
Amazon Brand – Happy Belly Peanut Oil, 1 gallon
Buy Now →Belgioioso Fresh Mozzarella Pearls, 8 oz
Buy Now →BelGioioso, Fresh Mozzarella, Sliced, 16 oz
Buy Now →Farberware Classic Stainless Steel Fry Lid, Saute Pan (2.75 Quart), Silver
Buy Now →Goya White Corn Meal Masarepa 24 Oz
Buy Now →HexClad 3.3QT Hybrid Deep Sauté Pan with Lid
Buy Now →P.A.N. White Corn Meal – Pre-cooked Gluten Free and Kosher Flour for Arepas (2.2 lb/Pack of 1)
Buy Now →Notes
If you’d like to make more than one batch of the Cheesy Empanadas at a time, make one batch at a time. The dough might dry out if doubling or tripling the dough. It’s easy enough to make that it shouldn’t take any extra time.
I would NOT recommend making these in an air fryer. They won’t be as crispy.
Feel free to use your favorite cheese or filling in the empanadas.
Here’s how to make fancy fold Cheesy Empanadas.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cheesy Empanaa
- Calories: 149
- Sugar: 0.4 g
- Sodium: 401.8 mg
- Fat: 4.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 16.1 g
- Fiber: 1.8 g
- Protein: 11.9 g
- Cholesterol: 8.4 mg