Down here in Florida, we are a melting pot of influences from Latin American, Cuba and the Caribbean. You can walk into any Publix and find deliciously fresh empanadas, croquettas and fresh Cuban bread. Empanadas are one of my all time faves so when the opportunity came from Hormel to represent Florida cuisine, this was a no brainer!
Being only 90 miles away from Cuba and a couple hour boat ride to the Bahamas & Caribbean, South Florida is jammed packed with authentic, Latin flavor. Empanadas are typically filled with meats, cheeses, guava or a mix of both cheese and guava. The filling is wrapped in dough and typically deep fried. I always like to make my empanadas with an extra kick of spice, filled with surprises and baked to perfection. Gotta keep it somewhat healthy-ish, it is swimsuit season 24/7 after all!
With more stores carrying international items, finding legit empanada dough for these Hormel Chili Empanadas shouldn’t be too hard, but if you can’t, any store brand crescent rolls or pie dough can be used instead.
HORMEL® Chili Empanadas
- 1 can HORMEL® Chili with Beans
- 1 package Empanada Dough
- 1/4 cup Corn
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Shredded Colby Cheese
- Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
- 2 TBS Hot Sauce
- 1 TBS Cilantro, chopped
- Egg Whites
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
In a medium sized pot, add Hormel® Chili with Beans over medium heat. Then add the corn, 1 1/2 tablespoons of the hot sauce and cilantro. Stir till chili is warmed.
Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Begin filling empanada circles. Scoop a spoon full in the middle of the dough. Add cheese mix then fold dough over to make a half moon. Using a fork, score the edges of the dough to close the empanada. You should get about 8-10 empanadas.
Place empanadas on baking sheet. In a small bowl, separate the egg whites. I like to add a bit more hot sauce to the egg whites to add some flavor and a nice color to the outside of the empanadas. Put the remaining 1/2 tablespoon in the egg whites. Beat well then brush mixture on top of the empanadas.
Bake for 12 minutes or till the empanadas are golden brown. Serve with a side of rice and some plantains.
HORMEL® Chili shared over 50 regional ways to enjoy chili on their website and Facebook page to show fans Chili Nation, a nation that has declared their love for all things chili! Visit the HORMEL® Chili website for a sampling of recipes and chili pairings from every state, it also features videos, quizzes, and a coupon offering.
