Empanada

Empanada
Empanadillas from Spain
TypePastry
CourseAppetiser, main course
Place of originSpain
Region or stateGalicia
Associated cuisine
Main ingredientsMeat, cheese, corn, or other ingredients
VariationsPastel, pasty, Sri Lankan patties

An empanada is a type of baked or fried turnover consisting of pastry and filling, common in Spain, other Southern European countries, North African countries, South Asian countries, Latin American countries, and the Philippines. The name comes from the Spanish empanar (to bread, i.e., to coat with bread), and translates as 'breaded', that is, wrapped or coated in bread. They are made by folding dough over a filling, which may consist of meat, cheese, tomato, corn, or other ingredients, and then cooking the resulting turnover, either by baking or frying.