National Empanada Day

Making a prominent appearance as a culinary figure in the Spanish-speaking world, empanadas offer a delicious foray into a wide array of flavors that are wrapped in a delightful pastry shell.

National Empanada Day brings the perfect opportunity to show appreciation for and celebrate this small, convenient meal that packs a huge and delectable punch!

History of National Empanada Day

The story behind empanadas can be traced back more than 500 years, when this simple little food made its first appearance in a cookbook from Catalonia, now part of Spain.

Similar forms of this dish can be found in various areas of the world with Spanish influence, such as Portugal, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and more. But no matter where they are found, the expectation is that they will always be delicious.

National Empanada Day has been celebrated since 2011, when the day was started through grassroots efforts to make a big deal out of this small but mighty hand pie!

How to Celebrate National Empanada Day

Have loads of fun and fill that belly with extreme goodness by celebrating National Empanada Day using some of these ideas:

Enjoy Eating Empanadas

Of course, everyone should spend at least a portion of this day reveling in a few different versions of empanadas on their plates!

Many restaurants with a Latin flair are likely to serve these pastry wrapped treats, including establishments with an Argentinian, South American, or Spanish theme.

Food trucks are also a good place to score empanadas, so grab a friend and eat some at lunch or dinner in honor of National Empanada Day.

Host a National Empanada Day Party

Food is always a great reason to throw a party! And this specific food that comes as a pastry filled with tasty goodness brings a special kind of celebration. In honor of National Empanada Day, gather some friends and family to enjoy a feast of these little food envelopes.

Order in from a local empanada restaurant or enjoy making them at home to serve to guests. And don’t forget to play some Spanish or Portuguese music and decorate with a similar theme!

Try Making Empanadas at Home

Although they might be a bit tricky to get started with, empanadas are actually a fairly simple concept that just requires a bit of prepwork.

Shortcuts like using pre-made refrigerated dough can certainly cut down the time. Fill them with a mix of ground beef, chorizo, onion and potatoes for a traditional vibe. It’s a great way to use up leftovers as well.

Get Creative with Empanadas

One of the best things about this little savory meal or sweet treat is that the possibilities for fillings are almost endless! From traditional to a bit out there, spend National Empanada Day getting creative with unique ideas for what to put inside.

Hop online to find a myriad of recipes, or check out a few of these ideas to get started:

• Sweet Potato Cheesecake Empanadas
• Portuguese Shrimp Empanadas
• Buffalo Chicken Empanadas
• Turkey Empanadas with Stuffing and Cranberries