Empanadas are a staple for parties and get togethers, but I always say an empanada is only as good as it’s empanada dough. If you’re using frozen discs, they’re probably not as good as this 4 ingredient masa de pastelitos!
Pastelitos, better known as empanadas, can be filled with just about anything. The classic fillings are beef, chicken, and cheese, but you can get really creative and fill them with shrimp, stewed meat, or oxtail. The filling may be the part of the empanada most of us pay attention to, but the dough is what people actually remember.
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You only need 4 ingredients
This recipe is so simple and only takes a few ingredients to make: flour, salt, butter, and water. I bet you already have these all on hand!
What’s the difference between empanadas and pastelitos
The main difference between the two is the shape. Empanadas are larger and typically semi-circular, while pastelitos are smaller, and usually round.
Use this dough to make Dominican empanadas
If you’ve ever had fresh empanadas in the Dominican Republic, you know they’re on a whole other level of delicious. What makes them unforgettable is the masa, it’s crispy, buttery, and packed with flavor.
Use this empanada dough recipe to recreate Dominican empanadas at home!
Empanada Dough (Masa de Pastelitos)
Equipment
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
- 2¾ cups flour all-purpose
- 1 tbsp butter melted
- 1 tsp salt
- ¾-1 cup cold water
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together flour and salt. Once mixed, add butter and water and combine into with a fork until the dough comes together then knead for 5 minutes.
- Let the dough rest for 1 hour, then knead for another 1 to 2 minutes and roll it into a log. Cut the log in half, then cut each half in half again to make 4 pieces. Continue cutting each piece in half until you have 16 equal pieces. Take each piece and flatten it into a circle disc about 1/8 inch thick using a rolling pin.
- Add filling to one half of the circle, fold the other half over the filled half, and press down the edges (on both sides) with a fork. Repeat this step for the rest of the discs then set aside.
- Add oil to a pan over low to medium heat and fry the empanadas until golden brown on both sides. Remove the empanadas from the oil and transfer to a paper towel covered plate. Let cool and enjoy!
