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Empanadillas

A traditional Puerto Rican dish — Empanadillas are the golden half-moon turnovers that rule island snack counters, their annatto-tinted dough fried around a juicy beef picadillo.

⏱ 30 minPrep time
🔥 25 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Empanadillas - Portoricain recipe

A traditional Puerto Rican dish — Empanadillas are the golden half-moon turnovers that rule island snack counters, their annatto-tinted dough fried around a juicy beef picadillo. Unlike their Latin cousins, the Puerto Rican version uses a richer wheat dough colored with achiote oil. Crisp, savory and endlessly portable, they are street food perfection.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Brown the beef with the sofrito, tomato sauce, adobo, capers and olives until dry and flavorful, about 10 minutes; cool completely.
  2. Rub the shortening and annatto oil into the flour and salt until crumbly, then add the warm water and knead into a smooth, supple dough. Rest 20 minutes.
  3. Roll the dough out to 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick and cut into 5-inch (13 cm) rounds.
  4. Fill each round with a heaping tablespoon of picadillo, fold into a half-moon, and press the edges with a fork to seal.
  5. Heat the oil to 350°F (175°C) and fry in batches until puffed and golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Drain and serve hot.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Keep the dough covered while working so it does not dry out and crack. Crab empanadillas are a classic variation: sauté lump crabmeat with sofrito and a little tomato sauce instead of beef.

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Recipe details

Prep30 min
Cook25 min
Servings6
CategoryDinner
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 →