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Empanada Gallega

A golden, olive-oil pastry filled with tuna, onion, and peppers, baked until the crust shatters — Galicia’s great portable pie.

⏱ 30 minPrep time
🔥 40 minCook time
🍽 8Servings
🏷 AppetizerCategory
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Empanada Gallega

Empanada gallega is Galicia’s golden, free-form pie: a sturdy olive-oil pastry wrapped around a smoky filling of tuna, peppers, onions, and tomatoes. It is sturdy enough to travel, which is exactly how it was meant to be carried.

Bakers across Galicia make their own versions, from seafood to pork to cod, and the pies are sold by weight at every market. Serve it in generous slices at room temperature, with a crisp white wine.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Mix the flour, 1/2 cup olive oil, water, and salt into a soft dough. Knead briefly, cover, and rest 1 hour.
  2. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet and cook the onion and pepper until very soft, about 12 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute.
  3. Stir in the grated tomatoes, paprika, and a pinch of salt, and simmer until thick, about 8 minutes. Fold in the tuna and cool completely.
  4. Divide the dough in half and roll each piece into a thin rectangle. Place one on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  5. Spread the filling over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Cover with the second rectangle and crimp the edges to seal.
  6. Cut a few steam vents, brush with beaten egg, and bake at 375°F for 35-40 minutes, until deeply golden. Cool slightly before slicing.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Keep the filling thick and dry — a wet filling turns the pastry soggy. The empanada tastes even better the next day, served at room temperature.

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Recipe details

Prep30 min
Cook40 min
Servings8
CategoryAppetizer
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →