Air-Fried Empanadas: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Empanadas are a popular Tex-Mex or Mexican snack, and they can be cooked in an air fryer. This method of cooking is much healthier than deep-frying, as it uses much less grease. It's also faster and easier, as there's no messy oil to deal with. You can cook fresh or frozen empanadas in an air fryer, and they will come out crispy and golden.

How to make empanadas in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook empanadas in an air fryer. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make them:

Firstly, prepare your empanada filling. This could be beef, onion, garlic, cumin, olives and raisins. Working with one empanada disk at a time, scoop a heaped tablespoon of the filling onto the centre of the disk. Fold the dough over the filling, then use a fork to press the edges of the dough together, sealing it tightly.

Next, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 minutes. While the air fryer preheats, brush the tops of the empanadas with egg wash.

Arrange the empanadas in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through for even browning.

Once golden and crispy, remove the empanadas from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving.

You can also cook fresh or frozen empanadas at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway.

How to make empanadas in an air fryer without preheating

Yes, you can cook empanadas in an air fryer. Here's how to make them without preheating the air fryer:

Firstly, prepare your empanada filling. This could be beef, onion, garlic, cumin, olives and raisins. Working with one empanada disc at a time, scoop a heaped tablespoon of the filling onto the centre of each disc. Fold the dough over the filling, then use a fork to press the edges of the dough together and seal it tightly.

Next, place your empanadas in the air fryer. How many you can cook at once will depend on the size of your air fryer and the size of your empanadas. Set the air fryer to 330F and cook for 8 minutes, or until they're golden brown and crisp. The dough will bubble and blister, just like deep-fried empanadas. If you want to ensure even cooking, you can let the air fryer heat up for 1-2 minutes before adding the empanadas.

Once they're cooked, remove the empanadas from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat frozen empanadas, cook them in the air fryer at 350F for 8-10 minutes.

How to make empanadas in an air fryer with preheating

Yes, you can cook empanadas in an air fryer. Here's how to make them with preheating:

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 minutes. While the air fryer preheats, brush the tops of the empanadas with egg wash. Next, arrange the empanadas in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through for even browning. Once golden and crispy, remove the empanadas from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving.

The number of empanadas you can cook at once will depend on the size of your air fryer and the size of your empanadas. For example, you may be able to fit 2 large empanadas in a 2.6-quart air fryer or 6 large empanadas in an air fryer oven. It is also worth noting that some air fryer instruction manuals call for preheating, while others don't. However, letting the air fryer heat up for 1-2 minutes can help crispy foods like empanadas cook more evenly.

To make the filling, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Then, add beef and cumin to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Finally, stir in olives and raisins. Working with one empanada disc at a time, scoop 1 heaping tablespoon of the beef mixture onto the centre of each disc. Fold the dough over the filling, then use the tines of a fork to press the edges of the dough together, sealing it tightly.

How to make beef empanadas in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook empanadas in an air fryer. Here's how to make beef empanadas in an air fryer:

Firstly, heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add an onion and some garlic and cook until translucent, which should take around 4-5 minutes. Next, add the beef and cumin to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking up the beef with a spatula. This should take around 10 minutes. Then, stir in the olives and raisins.

Now, it's time to assemble the empanadas. Take one empanada disc at a time and scoop a heaping tablespoon of the beef mixture onto the centre of each disc. Fold the dough over the filling, then use the tines of a fork to press the edges of the dough together, sealing it tightly.

Brush the tops of the empanadas with egg wash and preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 minutes to ensure even cooking. While the air fryer preheats, arrange the empanadas in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap.

Set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook the empanadas for 8 minutes, flipping them halfway through for even browning. Once they're golden and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving.

If you have any leftover empanadas, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze them individually wrapped for up to 3 months. To reheat frozen cooked empanadas, cook them in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes until crispy.

How to reheat frozen empanadas in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook empanadas in an air fryer. Here's how to reheat frozen empanadas in an air fryer:

First, preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) or 370°F (190°C) for about 1-2 minutes. This will help the empanadas cook more evenly. While the air fryer is preheating, you can take the empanadas out of the freezer and let them thaw slightly.

Next, arrange the empanadas in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Set the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) or 370°F (190°C) and cook for 8-15 minutes, flipping halfway through for even browning. Keep an eye on them to ensure they don't burn.

Once the empanadas are golden and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving. Enjoy your delicious, crispy empanadas!

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