The Cachito Files
What is an empanada? The hand-held lunch the whole block agrees on.
· 3 min read · Miami Beach
An empanada is one of those foods almost every Latin American country claims as its own, and they are all a little bit right. At its simplest, it is a piece of dough folded over a savory filling and sealed at the edge, then baked or fried until golden. The name comes from the Spanish empanar, which means to wrap in bread.
Where it comes from
The empanada traces back to Galicia, in the northwest of Spain, with roots that likely reach further east to older stuffed-pastry traditions. Spanish settlers carried it across the Atlantic, and every region it landed in made it theirs, changing the dough, the fold, and what went inside.
Baked or fried?
Both are traditional, it just depends where you are. Argentina tends to bake them, often with seasoned beef, olives, and egg. Colombia and Venezuela usually fry them, with a dough made from cornmeal. Neither is more correct than the other, which is the fun of it.
How we serve it
Our Empanada Combo is $6.00, with your choice of filling and a drink, Coke, Pepsi, or fresh coffee. It is the easy lunch around here: warm, hand-held, and ready in the time it takes to order. Grab it at 5101 Collins Ave, or have it delivered across Mid-Beach.
Quick answers
- Are empanadas baked or fried?
- Both are traditional. Argentine empanadas are usually baked, while Colombian and Venezuelan empanadas are often fried with a cornmeal dough. It depends on the country and the cook.
- Where does the empanada come from?
- The empanada originated in Galicia, in northwest Spain, and spread across Latin America with Spanish settlers, where each region developed its own version. The name comes from the Spanish empanar, to wrap in bread.
- Where can I get an empanada in Miami Beach?
- Green Market at 5101 Collins Ave, Mid-Beach, serves an Empanada Combo for $6.00 with a drink. Pickup or delivery across Mid-Beach, every day from 7am to 10pm.