These vegetable empanadas are made with eggplant, potato and feta to give a Greek-style filling, surrounded by a crisp pastry. Delicious and moreish.
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I know, I know, I probably should have shared these vegetable empanadas on Tuesday as a final nod to Cinco de Mayo, but to be honest, I just wasn't quite organized enough to make them in time. Plus I read somewhere that today is empanada day, so I'm obviously not the only one stretching the theme. Whoever it is that comes up with these days, that is.
Anyway, I've been meaning to make some empanadas for a while and these were certainly a great first go. The filling is more Greek in style than Spanish or South American, where empanadas generally originate, but that doesn't stop it being delicious and hearty. And after all, so many countries have a version of small pies that I think anything goes.
Before I tell you more about making these empanadas, I have a couple of bits of news to share. First, I have the honor of co-hosting Fiesta Friday today which I am really looking forward to after I last did so a month or so back. There are always so many great recipes shared by those who take part, it's a great place to get ideas. Do hop over and take a look, and if you are a food blogger, why not take part?
The other bit of news is that, while these empanadas are not exactly a 'bun', they are not such a bad representation of the shape of my belly right now as I guess it's about time I shared the fact that I'm going to be having another little monkey join our brood in a few months time. I have been keeping our local stores in stock of grapefruit and mango as seems to be in the list of things I want to eat, and I suspect my various reminiscings of Spain and other places has been influenced by the coming changes.
Anyway, putting aside the aches and pains that have started already, and the sickness that I am glad has largely passed, we're looking forward to meeting our new addition later in the year. In the meantime, I hope to keep feeding the little one well, and not feeling too irked by what I'm not meant to eat as a result. At least now I can explain if I have some odd food cravings to share!
Now, back to the empanadas. First I'm really pleased with the pastry here. It is really easily whizzed up in the food processor, it's easy to work with and comes out nicely crisp. The filling is also easy, just chop the potato, eggplant/aubergine and onion and roast them in the oven with some olive oil and oregano, then let it cool a little and add the feta.
Putting the pie together might feel a little fiddly, but you soon get in the swing of it and the pastry is pretty forgiving in stretching slightly without cracking. They're tasty, heartily filling and pretty healthy as well. They make a great snack, appetizer or lunch so are really versatile too. We just had them on their own, but they'd also work with a salad on the side and I'm sure a bit of tzatziki (like the one with my chicken gyros) on the side wouldn't go amiss too.
All in all, the flavors in these vegetable empanadas are great and well worth a try (whether you're eating for two or not!)
Try these other empanadas:
- Rosemary-infused strawberry empanadas
- Chocolate chip and pumpkin empanadas
- Plus get more snack recipes, both sweet and savory, in the archives.
Greek-ish vegetable empanadas
Ingredients
- 1 cup wholewheat flour 140g wholemeal flour
- 1 cup all purpose flour 140g plain flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 2 oz unsalted butter 55g cut into chunks
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 4-5 tablespoon cold water
- 6 oz eggplant 180g aubergine
- 10 ½ oz potatoes 300g
- 1 onion small, or ½ large
- ½ teaspoon oregano oregano
- 3 oz feta cheese 85g
Instructions
- Put the flours and the salt in a food processor and pulse to mix. Add the egg, butter and oil and pulse until like small breadcrumbs.
- Add the water a tablespoon at a time until the mixture is coming together in larger lumps. Remove from food processor, press together and cover and refrigerate for around 30min.
- Meanwhile preheat oven to 400F/200C.
- Dice the eggplant and potato into small pieces, approx up to ⅓in/1cm. Dice the onion to a similar size. Spread all on a baking sheet so they are in a single layer, toss with some olive oil and the oregano.
- Bake for around 10-15min until the potato is cooked and starting to brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool slightly.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface until about as thin as you are comfortable with (around ⅛in/2-3mm) and cut out circles - I used my largest scone/pastry cutter which is about 2 ¾in diameter.
- Crumble the feta and add to the potato-eggplant mixture then spoon heaped spoonfuls of the mixture into the center of each pastry circle - they should look as if they'll be fairly full.
- Carefully pull together the sides of the pastry and use a little water to stick the edges together - this is easiest by bringing together at the middle then working to one side before then working back along the whole edge. If you like, crimp the edge as you go by gently pulling the underneath side over the edge and tucking in.
- Lightly oil a baking sheet and bake for approx 20min until the empanadas are starting to brown.
Nutrition
See some of my favorite cooking tools and ingredients in the Caroline's Cooking Amazon store.
Kirsten says
Caroline,
Thanks for this recipe! I've added it to the Farm Fresh Feasts Visual Recipe Index by Ingredient, a resource for folks like me who love to eat from the farm share.
I appreciate your help in making this index better!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Kristen, I hope your readers enjoy!
Christine says
You must be due anyday now, Congratulations! Please review the #SaucySaturdays maternity leave policy before you go into labor 😉
These look great. I absolutely love empanadas but haven't made them yet. Looking forward to these.
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Christine - it does sometimes feel like it, but still a couple months to go! I found this a great pastry for making empanadas, it was so forgiving, and the filling is really tasty too. I'd definitely recommend!
Josette says
I am obsessed with empanadas- especially vegetarian ones!! (BTW- how did I miss empanada day!?!?) These look & sound AMAZING! We stretch out Cinco de Mayo for practically a week in my house.... chips and guac every day- we had enchiladas 2 days & tacos 2 days!! 😉 Thanks for hosting the party this week & have a great weekend!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Josette, these are really tasty. It's definitely worth stretching Cinco de Mayo too!
Ginger says
Congratulations, Caroline! What a wonderful piece of news! These empanadas looks absolutely delicious, the perfect fusion food. Thanks for co-hosting this week's events, I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Ginger. Yes hosting is fun, there are so many good posts. And these empanadas are really tasty too!
deliciouslynell says
Yummo! What a great savoury treat!
Dini @ Giramuk's Kitchen says
This looks delicious Caroline! Thank you for co hosting FF too! I love the vegetables in the empanadas too - Eggplants? Definitely count me in!!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Dini, I do like eggplant a lot so any excuse, and they certainly work here.
Julie is Hostess At Heart says
Congratulations on your upcoming addition! These empanadas look delicious! I still have a few Mexican dishes to roll out too but we eat them all the time. We love Mexican food!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Julie. Mexican food is good anytime, I agree.
Judi Graber says
First of all congratulations - having a food blog during this special time must be a little hard as your cravings are so different from what you might consider "normal". These look simple, easy on the stomach and thanks for co-hosting. I will be doing the same in a couple of weeks 🙂
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Judi. Actually I think the cravings have made me experiment a bit more with other cuisines, but I do find my tastes constantly changing. Yes these are very easy on the stomach but tasty as well. Enjoy your FF hosting in due course!
Suchitra says
Congratulations Caroline!! The cravings rule!!
Those empanadas look delicious! I could eat that whole plate now. I especially like it because it is vegetarian! Goes into my "to try " list!
Happy FF and Happy Mother's Day!
You will be a great co-host!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Suchitra. I hope you manage to try them - let me know what you think if you do!
Quinn Caudill says
What a great Mash-Up. How did the eggplant hold up? Looks awesome!!
Caroline's Cooking says
Thanks, Quinn, the eggplant holds up really well mainly because of being roasted in small chunks without an excess of oil.