| The term empanada simply means breaded-as in | | | | made with corn-seasoning or flour. In both countries, |
| breaded chicken or vegetables. However, in South | | | | empanadas are often paired with an Aji sauce, which |
| America, the word has grown to refer to a stuffed, | | | | is made of cilantro, scallions, vinegar, salt and lemon |
| semi-circular pastry. Although the empanada has | | | | juice. In Ecuador, red peppers and sometimes |
| different incarnations in various countries, it always | | | | chopped tomato are integrated into the Aji sauce. |
| consists of a stuffing-be it a cheese, vegetable or | | | | A variety of Colombian empanadas is the stuffed |
| meat-wrapped in dough, and then baked or fried. | | | | potato, which, as the name explains, is made my |
| Fruit filling can be used to create dessert empanadas. | | | | stuffing a potato (and then breading it), rather than |
| In Argentina, the country that is perhaps most | | | | wrapping the stuffing in dough. Stuffed potato |
| associated with the empanada, empanadas are | | | | empanadas are circular rather than semi-circular. |
| served frequently as appetizers, and consist primarily | | | | In Ecuador, some people make empanadas de arroz, |
| of ground beef, sometimes spiced with cumin. | | | | rice empanadas, which are deep fried. In Panama and |
| In Bolivia, in addition to beef or chicken, empanadas | | | | Peru, empanadas are smaller than in other Latin |
| often contain potatoes, peas, carrots, and either a | | | | American countries, and in Cuba, Puerto Rico and |
| quail's egg, olive or raisins. Bolivians also eat fried | | | | Mexico, sweet fillings are more common, so that |
| cheese empanadas, which are brushed with sugar | | | | empanadas are as much as breakfast and dessert |
| icing. | | | | item as an appetizer. |
| In Chile, because beef is more expensive, some of | | | | Uruguayan empanadas are similar to the Argentine |
| the beef filling is replaced with minced onion. Chileans | | | | varieties, but Uruguay is also known for their |
| eat empanadas particularly on September 18, during | | | | particularly tasty sweet empanadas, which combine |
| their national celebration. | | | | dulce de leche and chocolate, and are covered with |
| Ecuadorian and Colombian empanadas are frequently | | | | sugar or apple jam. |