These vegan dumplings are the perfect finger food snacks, hot or cold they’re delicious. They’re filled with garlic spinach but you can add anything you like! They can be prepared with gluten-free corn flour or regular wheat/ spelt flour.
Today I have a recipe for vegan empanadas for you. These are stuffed dumplings, which are mostly served in Spain, Central and South America and the Philippines. Often, however, they are made with eggs and filled with minced meat and cheese. But I think this recipe proves once again that the vegan version tastes just as delicious without dairy products. I prefer to snack on them in the evening while relaxing in front of the TV or serve them when friends come over. In combination with different dips, such as guacamole or cashew herbal dip, they are a great party snack. But these empanadas are also perfect as a side dish to a fresh salad or for preparing for the next day to take away.
Vegan empanadas – many possibilities to make!
Usually, empanadas are made from gluten-free (precooked) cornflour or simple all-purpose wheat flour. But you can also combine both types of flour or use just a gluten-free flour mixture. Optionally, you can also use spelt flour. Anyway, in this recipe, I made the dough with wheat flour because it is available in every supermarket and I think most of you already have it at home. Also as regards the filling different combinations are possible. In this recipe, I chose a simple filling of garlic spinach with vegan grated cheese. But I also like to fill them with beans, corn, peas, and carrots. With a filling of potatoes and mushrooms, like I did with my vegan pierogi, they certainly taste very good as well.
Vegan empanadas are easy to make!
To make the vegan empanadas, you start with making the dough. First, combine flour with baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Shape a pile and press a hollow in the center. Then add the soft vegan butter into the hollow and fill in plant-based milk (or water). Now knead everything well until you have a nice smooth dough. Form the dough into a ball and wrap in cling film. Place the wrapped dough ball in the fridge to chill for at least 1/2 hour. If you leave the dough longer in the fridge, you should remove it about 15 minutes to come to room temperature before using. Otherwise, it’ll be more difficult to roll out the dough. In the meantime, you can prepare the filling, however you like. While the prepared filling cools down, you can roll out the dough and cut out medium sized circles (I easily used a big glass of about 10 cm diameter). Then place about 1 teaspoon of the filling in the center of each dough circle and fold the empanadas over the filling into a crescent. Now press the edges firmly with a fork, so that the filling does not run out. Before I put the stuffed empanadas in the oven, I always brush them with a mixture of olive oil, soy milk and some turmeric for a nice golden color. You can either bake the vegan empanadas in the oven for about 20 minutes at 200°C until they are golden brown and crispy, as I do, or optionally fry them. This recipe makes about 12-16 empanadas (depending on size).
If you tried the recipe, I would appreciate a comment. You are also welcome to post a picture on Instagram and link it to @biancazapatka so that I can see your great creations. ? Maybe you will also like my similar recipe for vegan dumplings with spinach and cashew ricotta.
Vegan Empanadas with Spinach
Ingredients
Dough:
- 300 g of flour *
- 100 g vegan butter Alsan* (optional margarine)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 150 ml of plant-based milk (or water) lukewarm
Filling *:
To brush:
- 3 tbsp soy milk
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 pinch of turmeric (optional)
Instructions
Dough:
- Combine flour with baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Form a pile and press a hollow into the heaped flour.
- Melt the vegan butter in a saucepan. Allow to cool slightly and add into the flour hollow. Pour in plant-based milk (or water) and knead everything to a nice smooth dough.
- Then form the dough into a ball, wrap in cling film and place in the fridge to chill for at least 1/2 hour. *
Filling:
- Defrost and press the spinach.
- Peel onion and garlic and finely chop.
- Heat oil in a pan. Sauté chopped onion and garlic briefly. Add spinach and season with salt, pepper, a bit of nutmeg, and chili to taste. Then set aside and let cool slightly before adding the grated vegan cheese.
- Remove the dough from the fridge and knead again on a lightly floured surface. Then roll it out and cut out 10 cm diameter circles (I used a big glass for that). Knead again the remaining dough, roll out and then cut out. Continue this process until the dough is used up.
- Place 1-2 tsp filling in the center of each dough circle and fold the empanadas into a crescent. Then press the edges firmly with a fork.
- Brush a baking tray with oil (or line with baking paper) and place the dumplings on top.
- Mix the olive oil, soy milk and turmeric and brush the filled empanadas with the mixture.
- Bake them in a preheated oven at 200°C for about 20 minutes until golden brown and crispy. (Optionally you can also fry them).
- The vegan empanadas can be served hot or cold.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Instead of all-purpose wheat flour (or spelt flour) you can also use gluten-free (pre-cooked) cornflour, or combine both types of flour. Another option is to use a gluten-free flour mixture.
- You can use this vegan butter or margarine.
- The filling can also be made with other ingredients (vegetables) of choice.
- I used vegan grated cheese, but you can also use vegan cream cheese / feta or homemade cashew ricotta.
- If you leave the dough in the fridge for more than 1/2 hour, you should remove it about 15 minutes to come to room temperature before using. Otherwise the dough will be difficult to roll.
- They taste best when you serve them with different dips, such as guacamole or cashew herbal dip.
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How long do you normally knead the dough. I felt like I was kneading for 10 minute straight and it was still not smooth. Did I do something wrong? I used unbleached ap flour, earth balance vegan butter sticks, and soy milk. Used the dough hook on my stand mixer and then kneaded by hand.
It was more smooth after the refrigeration. Whew. I was worried I ruined it. Hahaha
Thanks for letting me know! 😃
So happy it turned out perfectly! ❤️
I usually knead the dough for around 8 minutes by hand until it is smooth. I figured out that it works better by hand.
I’ve read the recipe a 100 times and can’t see at what point you add the cheese? Am I losing my mind?
It’s mentioned in step 3. It’s the last step of making the filling.
This is such a great recipe! We successfully made our first vegan empanadas. Very delicious!! Instead of feta cheese, we used marinated tofu instead 🙂 The idea of using olive oil and soy milk to brush is awesome! Will definitely try out more Bianca’s recipes.
So glad you love this recipe! Thank you so much! ❤️
Hi! Trying these as I type and having a really hard time with the dough. I’m using a GF flour blend and followed your instructions, but the dough is cracking when I try to fold the empanada. Any suggestions?
Hi Kat, if using gluten-free flour you cannot avoid some cracks. Which gluten-free flour did you use? Maybe you could try another one or adding an egg substitute for better binding.
Unfortunately, I didn’t love the dough. I found the dough to be quite dry and bland. I was really hoping this recipe would be a winner since it was so easy to make. Thank you anyways.
Hi Valeria, the dough is similar to pizza dough but without yeast. Anyway, it’s normal this kind of dough doesn’t have much flavor. Maybe you’d like trying my vegan burrito samosas made of tortillas? Just take note that tortillas don’t have much flavor either xD But the filling and dips is what it makes delicious!
Re: spinach… cook first then freeze? Or raw , freeze? Is freezing necessary?
Hi Pame, I used frozen spinach in this recipe. Just defrost overnight or in the microwave. Once thawed, squeeze out as much liquid as you can. But you can also use fresh spinach if you prefer. If using fresh spinach, cook in a skillet with a little water until wilted, then transfer to a colander and squeeze out any excess liquid. 🙂
I just made the empanadas and they were so delicious! Will definitely bake them again (and again and again). There are so many options for the fillings. I made these with vegan Mexican nacho salad and a crossover dip, that combined a classic chimichurri with Oriental Sh‘uk!
Can’t wait to try more of your recipes! ❤️
Hi Eva, so glad that you liked these vegan Empanadas! Your vegan Mexican Nacho Filling sounds so good to me! I also love this vegan burrito samosas filling! Thank you for your feedback! 🙂
about what thickness to roll dough out ? Thank you looks great!
Hi Diana, I roll out the dough to 1/4 inch (a little over half a centimeter) thick. Have fun trying the recipe 🙂
Wonderful recipe. My 19 year old son has been vegan for about a year now and is very passionate about animal rights and health so I am always looking for great vegan recipes. I loved this meal and used the Follow Your Heart brand Vegan Gourmet Mozzarella Shreds and fresh spinach. Thanks again for posting.
Hi Tamara,
Thank you for your positive feedback!
So glad that your son liked this dish too!
Will try this vegan mozzarella ?
Lots of love,
Bianca ❤️