Beef Empanadas
Beef empanadas are golden, flaky pastries filled with a savoury mixture of flank steak, olives, bell pepper and onion. The Thermomix TM7 makes the shortcrust-style dough and the rich filling in one bowl, saving time and washing-up. Ideal as a starter, party snack or hearty main course with a South American flair.
About this recipe
Beef empanadas Thermomix TM7 style bring the beloved South American street-food classic straight into your kitchen with the help of your all-in-one kitchen machine. These golden pastries wrap a rich filling of flank steak, briny pitted olives, sweet bell pepper and onion in a tender dough made from flour, vegetable shortening and warm water. Searching for empanada recipes that actually fit a busy weeknight dinner? The TM7 handles the labour-intensive parts: it kneads the dough until silky and elastic, chops the vegetables evenly in seconds, and heats the beef filling hands-free while you roll out the pastry circles. That means less prep, fewer bowls and consistently good results, even if you have never folded an empanada before. Serve them warm as a starter, pack them into lunchboxes, or offer a platter at your next drinks party. Crisp outside, juicy inside, these homemade beef empanadas taste far better than anything from the freezer aisle.
Preparation tips
- Keep the vegetable shortening cold and cut it into small cubes before adding it to the flour, so the Thermomix produces a crumbly texture that bakes into beautifully flaky empanada pastry.
- Chill the rested dough in the fridge before rolling; cold dough is far easier to roll thinly and holds its shape better when you fold the empanadas around the beef and olive filling.
- Seal the edges firmly with a fork and brush the pastries with beaten egg for a glossy, golden finish; uncooked empanadas also freeze well on a tray before bagging.
Recipe variations
- Vegetarian version: replace the flank steak with finely chopped mushrooms and cooked chickpeas, keep the olives, bell pepper and onion, and season with smoked paprika for a deeply savoury, meat-free empanada.
- Festive Christmas variation: add diced apple, raisins and a pinch of cumin and cinnamon to the beef filling for a Chilean-style festive empanada that pairs wonderfully with a glass of mulled wine.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Precision weighing - Add flour and warm water directly into the mixing bowl while the Thermomix scale weighs each empanada dough ingredient to the gram. [Weighing]. [Precision Control]
- Uniform chopping - The Thermomix chops the onion and bell pepper into even pieces in seconds, so every empanada bite contains balanced filling. [Chopping]. [Built-in Scale]
- Effortless kneading - The TM7 kneads the flour and vegetable shortening into a smooth, elastic dough without sticky hands or a floured worktop. [Kneading]. [Multi-Function]
- Controlled heating - Precise temperature control from the Thermomix heats the flank steak filling gently, preventing the olive and pepper mixture from burning. [Heating]. [Precision Control]
- Even blending - The TM7 mixes the warm water evenly through the dough, giving the empanada pastry a consistent, supple texture ready for rolling. [Mixing]. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- salt
- vegetable shortening
- all-purpose flour
- warm water
- flank steak
- pitted black olives
- red bell pepper
- white onion
- olive oil
- fresh Roma tomatoes