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About This Recipe
If you love caprese salad, you’ll love this caprese empanada recipe! These crispy discs are packed with the best savory filing and are so incredible fresh!
Never tried empanadas? Traditional empanadas are baked or fried pastry typically filled with meat, cheese, or any other ingredients. They originated in Latin America and the word “empanada” means “wrapped and coated in bread” in Spanish.
I love this recipe because it only requires a few delicious ingredients and tastes so fresh! I used store-bought empanadas disc to make this recipe even easier but you can always use homemade for a true, authentic experience!
Want more delicious Italian-inspired appetizers? Try my Air Fryer Pizza Puffs or my Chicken Parmesan Stromboli! You also can’t go wrong with my Bubble Up Pizza Casserole with Biscuits!
Why You’ll Love These Caprese Empanadas
- Savory hand pies made with fresh ingredients like tomatoes and basil, mozzarella cheese!
- Easy to make and great for serving a crowd for your next party!
- Serve these empanadas as an appetizer, snack or delicious meal with your favorite protein!
- Taste just like a yummy caprese salad wrapped in flakey dough!
- Less than 200 calories per serving and 8 grams of protein! Plus, they’re a great vegetarian option!
- Fresh mozzarella cheese – can use sliced, shredded or freshly shredded from a block!
- Tomatoes – you can use any type of fresh tomatoes for this recipe!
- Fresh basil
- Empanada discs – I used store-bought but you can also use homemade!
- Egg
- Sauce– like pizza sauce or pesto for dipping!
How To Make
The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through the process so you know what to expect when you’re making it!
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; spray with cooking spray. Add the mozzarella, chopped tomatoes and basil to a bowl and toss to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
2. To assemble the empanadas, place a large spoonful of the cheese mixture onto the middle of each empanada disc.
3. Then fold the empanada discs and seal the edges with a fork.
4. Brush the top of the empanadas with the egg wash and place them on the baking sheet.
5. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown on the top.
6. Serve the caprese empanadas with pizza sauce, pesto sauce, or whatever sounds good and enjoy!
Helpful Tips
If using a gluten-free dough (or making your own) you will need to create your own empanada disc. To do so:
- Divide the dough in 10 equal pieces (you might not need all of your dough or you can double/triple the filling amount).
- Roll each piece into a ball. On a flour dusted surface roll each ball into a round circle using a rolling pin.
Make sure to not overfill your empanada dough! You want to make sure the side of the empanada shell can completely close to keep all the ingredients from leaking out on your prepared baking sheet.
Can I fry these caprese empanadas?
Yes, you can fry these empanadas.To fry them you can use a deep fryer or a basic frying pan, make sure to have enough oil to cover at least half the empanada if using a pan. Heat the oil and fry each empanada until they are golden on each side. Place them on paper towels to remove any excess oil.
Can I prepare these empanadas ahead of time and freeze them?
I don’t recommend freezing these empanadas using a premade empanada shell. Store-bought dough that is already frozen doesn’t typically freeze well and the mozzarella cheese and empanada filling will get a funky texture in the process.
Can you use pie crust instead of empanada dough?
Yes, can use pie crust, pastry dough or puff pastry for these empanadas. If making gluten-free, I recommend a gluten-free baking dough.
Can I cook these empanadas in the air fryer?
Yes! To cook in air fryer, place in the air fryer basket, being careful not to overcrowd or let them empanadas touch. Air fry at 325F for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!
Super Easy Caprese Empanadas (Vegetarian Empanadas Recipe)
Ingredients
- 6 oz fresh mozzarella cheese can use sliced, shredded or freshly shredded from a block!
- 2 medium tomatoes chopped
- Large handful of fresh basil chopped
- 10 empanada discs I used store-bought
- 1 egg whisked, for egg wash
- Sauce, for dipping like pizza sauce or pesto!
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Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; spray with cooking spray.
- Add the mozzarella, chopped tomatoes and basil to a bowl and toss to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- To assemble the empanadas, place a large spoonful of the cheese mixture onto the middle of each empanada disc. Then fold the empanada discs and seal the edges with a fork. Brush the top of the empanadas with the egg wash and place them on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown on the top.
- Serve the caprese empanadas with pizza sauce, pesto sauce, or whatever sounds good and enjoy!
Equipment
Notes
- Divide the dough in 10 equal pieces (you might not need all of your dough or you can double/triple the filling amount).
- Roll each piece into a ball. On a flour dusted surface roll each ball into a round circle using a rolling pin.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.
