Beef & Sweet Potato Empanadas with Avocado Cream Sauce
Hearty little empanadas stuffed with seasoned Ground Beef, sweet potato, and cheddar, baked until golden, and served with a tangy avocado crema. Perfect for parties or a comforting weeknight snack.
Recipe Courtesy Of:
Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 12
Ingredients: 21
Ingredients
Avocado Crema Sauce
Preparation
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Step 1
Preheat oven to 400°F.
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Step 2
Chop sweet potato, onion, garlic and cilantro. Combine spices. Set aside.
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Step 3
Place chopped sweet potato in small sauce pan. Cover with water and add 1 tsp. salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Cook 5 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside.
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Step 4
Heat large nonstick skillet over MEDIUM heat until hot. Add Ground Beef and cook 8-10 minutes, breaking beef into small crumbles and stirring occasionally. Add onion and stir until cooked through. Add chopped garlic and seasonings and continue cooking 1 minute. Add diced tomato and chilies and continue cooking on low heat for about 5 minutes. Add cilantro, sweet potatoes and cheese and stir to combine.
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Step 5
Empanada wrappers: Place wrappers on a lightly floured work surface and roll slightly to flatten. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or wax paper and arrange wrappers on pans. Place 2 heaping Tbsp. of beef filling on each wrapper and fold over in half to enclose. Use a fork to press and seal edges. In a small bowl, beat egg and water and lightly brush the surface of each empanada.Pie crusts: Cut dough into 6-inch rounds on a lightly floured work surface. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or wax paper and arrange dough circles on pans. Place 2 heaping Tbsp. of beef filling on each circle and fold over in half to enclose. Use a fork to press and seal edges. In a small bowl, beat egg and water and lightly brush the surface of each empanada.
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Step 6
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Serve hot with Avocado Cream Sauce.
Avocado Cream Sauce
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Step 1
Combine avocado, crema, lime juice, cilantro and salt. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.
Nutrition Information
263 Calories
6.8g SAT FAT
8g PROTEIN
1.6 mg IRON
1.4 mg ZINC
* Based on a 2,000 calorie diet
** Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet
The Essential Ingredients
Ground Beef: Also called ‘hamburger,’ is made by grinding beef cuts and beef trim. It works well in dishes that require crumbles, and typically any leanness of Ground Beef works well in dishes – just be sure to drain any remaining fat after cooking.
Sweet Potato: A root vegetable with a sweet flavor and orange flesh. Can be roasted, mashed, baked, or fried. Excellent in both sweet and savory dishes.
Onion: These versatile root veggies bring a sharpness to any dish, without adding too much spice. Onions come in wide varieties, but are most often seen in white, yellow, and red. Onions are a staple of many cuisines and a pillar of classic mirepoix, a soup and sauce base consisting of carrots, onions, and celery.
Cilantro: A bright green herb derived from the coriander plant. It has a pungent fragrance and can be found in bunches, year-round, in the refrigerated produce section of your grocery store.
Greek-Style Yogurt: A nutrient-dense food with a creamy texture that’s made by straining whey out of yogurt, which makes it thicker and tangier compared to regular yogurt. It’s a great source of protein and calcium, and is recommended for gut health.
Safe Handling Tips:
- Wash hands with soap and water before cooking and always after touching raw meat.
- Separate raw meat from other foods.
- Wash all cutting boards, utensils, and dishes after touching raw meat.
- Do not reuse marinades used on raw foods.
- Wash all produce prior to use.
- Cook steaks and roasts until temperature reaches 145°F for medium rare, as measured by a meat thermometer, allowing to rest for three minutes.
- Cook Ground Beef to 160°F as measured by a meat thermometer.
- Refrigerate leftovers promptly.
For more information on degree of doneness and other cooking tips.
For more information on safe food handling and beef safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I prepare the beef filling ahead of time?
You sure can! In fact, preparing the beef and sweet potato filling a day in advance allows the spices—like the cumin and chili powder—to meld together even more. Just store it in an airtight container in the fridge and make sure it cools completely before you start assembling your empanadas.
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What's the best way to get that perfect golden crust?
The secret is the egg wash! Brushing your empanadas lightly with a beaten egg before they go into the oven gives them a delicious, professional-looking golden-brown finish. Just make sure to seal the edges firmly with a fork so all that savory, protein-packed filling stays exactly where it belongs.
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Can I substitute the empanada wrappers if I can't find them?
Absolutely. If you can’t find specific empanada wrappers at your local market, refrigerated pie crust dough is a fantastic and convenient substitute. Just roll it out slightly, cut it into circles, and follow the same filling and baking instructions for a result that’s just as satisfying.
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