Beef Empanadas (Argentinean)

There are as many variations of empanadas as there are cooks in Argentina (though they’re popular throughout Latin America, and Spain too). We prefer these ones baked, not fried - and the puff pastry dough ensures you’ll still get all of those flaky layers. Keeping some in the freezer certainly helps with last minute gatherings or drop in guests. These beef empanadas can hang out there for three months - just be sure to freeze them on a sheet tray first so they don’t stick together.

3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 lb ground beef (20% fat)
2 medium onions, chopped
2 small red bell peppers, seeded, chopped
sea salt
black pepper, freshly ground
3 Tbsp. ground cumin
2 Tbsp. ground sweet paprika
1 Tbsp. dried oregano
¼ tsp. ground cayenne pepper
1½ cups chicken stock or broth
2 tsp. sugar
½ cup raisins
3 pkg (12 each) Puff Pastry Dough for Turnovers/Empanadas (preferably Goya)
½ cup green olives (Picholine or Spanish), pitted, rinsed well, cut in half lengthwise

Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a large pot over high. Cook beef, breaking up with a spoon, until browned but not completely cooked through, 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving as much fat in pan as possible.

Reduce heat to medium and cook onion, bell peppers, and remaining 1 Tbsp. oil, stirring, until tender but not browned, 6–8 minutes; season with salt and black pepper. Add cumin, paprika, oregano, and cayenne and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chicken stock and reserved beef along with any accumulated juices to pot. Stir in sugar, 4 tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring and scraping up any brown bits, until most of the liquid is evaporated, 15-20 minutes; taste and season with salt and black pepper, if needed. Stir in raisins. Transfer to a medium bowl, cover, and chill at least 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C/170°C fan, Gas Mark 5).

Let dough sit at room temperature 15 minutes to temper. Remove 6 rounds from package, keeping plastic divider underneath, and arrange on a work surface. Place 2 Tbsp. filling in the center of each round. Top with 2 olive halves. Brush water around half of outer edge of each round. Using plastic divider to help you, fold round over filling and pinch edges to seal. Using a fork, crimp edges. Remove plastic and transfer empanada to a parchment-lined sheet tray, spacing 1" apart. Repeat with remaining rounds (you’ll get about 12 empanadas on each tray).

Bake empanadas, rotating tray halfway through, until golden brown and slightly darker around the edges, 25–35 minutes.

Makes about 36.

Make-Ahead: Filling can be made 3 days ahead. Keep chilled. Unbaked empanadas can be made 3 months ahead; freeze on sheet tray, then transfer to freezer bags and keep frozen.