The recipe for these Argentine-style empanadas appears in the cookbook “Empanadas, ” by Sandra Gutierrez. (Photo by Tina Rupp)
A good empanada holds the flavor secrets of Latin America in its soul. Its core reveals an aromatic story that’s unique to a nation, a kitchen, a street kiosk.
So there is no such thing as your basic empanada, as each region has its own definition of basic.
Here’s a range of local hand pies to try on National Empanada Day, which is today:
Calaveras Cantina
Calaveras Cantina at Jupiter’s Harbourside Place serves crispy-fried empanadas. (Photo by Liz Balmaseda)
The flaky duck empanadas at this Harbourside Place eatery are addictively good. They’re fried crispy with a juicy center of duck confit and mushrooms. A batch of four, served with a side of avocado ranch dipping sauce, make a great, shareable starter.
Calaveras Cantina: 125 Dockside Circle, Jupiter; 561-723-0059; CalaverasCantinas.com
Mojito
An empanada at Mojito restaurant in CityPlace. (Photo by Liz Balmaseda)
This lively spot atop CityPlace makes empanadas with your choice of three fillings: roasted chicken, picadillo or ham and cheese.
Mojito Latin Cuisine: 700 S. Rosemary Ave. (CityPlace, second floor), West Palm Beach; 561-832-6688;MojitoCP.com
El Sabor Latino
Empanada con carne at El Sabor Latino, Palm Beach Gardens. (Palm Beach Post)
This small, pan-Latino eatery, with locations in Palm Beach Gardens and Greenacres, serves 2-buck, homemade empanadas filled with either chicken or beef. The crust on these babies: corn masa.
El Sabor Latino: In Palm Beach Gardens at 4391 Northlake Blvd. (inside Joseph’s/ HomeGoods plaza); in Greenacres at 2202 Jog Rd.; ElSaborLatinoRestaurant.com
Buccan
Buccan’s famous braised short rib empanadas are topped with aji amarillo cream and fresh salsa criolla. (J. Gwendolynne Berry/ The Palm Beach Post)
Chef Clay Conley makes the best empanada in town. You’ll need a reservation, valet tip cash and proper attire to savor it, but, oh, is it ever so worth it to dig into Buccan Palm Beach’s short rib empanada. Conley dresses it up with a touch of salsa criolla and Peruvian-style ají amarillo (yellow pepper sauce).
Buccan: 350 S. County Rd., Palm Beach; 561-833-3450; BuccanPalmBeach.com
Related: Empanadas – The soul of Latin America wrapped in a hand-held pie
