Mama’s Empanadas

Recently, I was on my way to a special dinner party (post to come), and I wanted to pick up something to bring.  So I hit up this place nearby, which I’ve been meaning to check out anyway…  cuz lord knows I loved the empanadas in Argentina! 

Do you see those prices?  Less than $2 for each one, the most expensive one I can see is $1.75!  And I would think they are very filling.  I ordered quickly but it took a few minutes – maybe a little upwards of 5? – for everything to come, so I think they prepare them fresh as you order them.  I didn’t specify corn or wheat, so I received all corn.

Ready to be served at the dinner party hostess’s place.  From top clockwise: beef, chicken, and broccoli & cheese! 

Bisection of the beef one.  I thought it was alright.  The beef was beyond shredded nor ground; it was kind of a seasoned paste of beef.  BF didn’t like it and consequently refused to try any other kind unfortunately.  I would definitely not get this one again unless I craved that specific type of texture and flavor… which I can’t imagine doing. 

Cross section of the chicken empanada.  I know our hostess really enjoyed this one; I thought it wasn’t bad, but again, the chicken was neither shredded nor ground, but somehow made into almost a paste of some sorts.  I liked the peas in there, though – a nice contrast to the texture. 

Broccoli & cheese!  This was definitely, of the three that night, my hands-down favorite.  Smacking lightly of broccoli, with a strong taste of oily cheese – mozzarella perhaps? – with a crisp crust (actually, all of them had a very crispy corny shell), I really enjoyed this quite a bit. 

Yvo says: Overall, at just under $9 for the 6 empanadas above, it shouldn’t be hard for me to go back and try more kinds!  I would really like to try the wheat shell to see the difference, and I’d love to try some of the dessert kinds, figs, caramel, guava… yum!  Inexpensive and very tasty indeed! 
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