How to make Crab Empanadas Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (2024)

Published: · Updated: by Mely Martínez

JUMP TO RECIPE

These crab empanadas are popular among beachgoers along the Gulf Coast of Mexico. Empanada vendors carry a basket covered with a tablecloth protecting the empanadas from the sand and will offer you shrimp, fish or crab empanadas.

Crab Empanadas

How to make Crab Empanadas Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (1)

Some people, like my family, will go to the beach with an ice chest full of drinks, and just wait for the vendors to pass by their palapa.There are many types of vendors offering all kinds of foods and snacks, but we love to go for the empanadas. Even though they’re also sold at local seafood restaurants, the feeling of being at the seashore feeling the warm breeze, listening to the sound of the sea, and enjoying some crab empanadas with a cold beer, is simply priceless.

I hope you enjoy this recipe, it’s one of my favorite things to eat when I go to my hometown. Check the notes below for other filling recommendations.

How to make Crab Empanadas Recipe

JUMP TO FULL INSTRUCTIONS

How to make Crab Empanadas Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (2)

Notes:

  • In my hometown, we usually add beer to the dough to form the batter, but you can use water and baking powder as indicated above.
  • I use almost the same process to make the dough as when I’m making flour tortillas, the only difference is using beer instead of plain water. You can use this same dough to make empanadas with other types of fillings, like potato, ground beef picadillo, cheese and ham, chicken, or anything you can imagine!

DIRECTIONS:
FOR THE STUFFING:

How to make Crab Empanadas Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (3)
  • Heat the oil in a medium-size frying pan and add the chopped onion. Cook for a couple of minutes and stir in the garlic and crabmeat. Keep cooking for 2 more minutes and add the Serrano pepper and chopped tomato. Stir and place the lid on, and reduce heat to allow the tomato juices to release.
  • Cook for about 7-8 minutes, season with salt and pepper and allow them to cool down. The stuffing has to be cool when you use it to fill the empanadas.
How to make Crab Empanadas Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (4)

TO PREPARE THE DOUGH:

  • Place flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl and mix well. Next, add the shortening and, with the help of a fork, incorporate it with the flour until it resembles coarse oatmeal. Now, slowly pour the beer and stir to form the dough.
  • Place the dough on a floured work surface. Knead the dough for a couple of minutes until it is soft and smooth.
  • Place the dough back in the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes. This resting time will release the gluten that will help you roll the dough easily.
How to make Crab Empanadas Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (5)
  • After the resting time, separate the dough into 16 equal pieces. They should be about the size of a golf ball and will correspond to one empanada each. Cover them with the plastic wrap while you roll one at a time to form the empanadas.
  • Lightly dust your work surface and rolling pin with flour and start rolling each piece of dough to form a 5-inch diameter circle. If you have a hard time forming a round shape, use a small bowl and place it upside down over the already-rolled dough, then gently press it down to cut the dough into a circle.
  • Once you’ve formed the circle, place 3 tablespoons of crab filling on one side of the circle and fold the empanada, making sure the edge of the top part will be about a centimeter behind the bottom edge. (See picture above)
  • Using a kitchen brush, very lightly moisten the edge with water. Now, pinch and fold the edges into half-inch sections towards the center, using your thumb and your middle and index fingers, overlapping each fold until you finish at the other end of the empanada.
How to make Crab Empanadas Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (6)
  • Place the empanada over a clean kitchen towel and cover with plastic wrap, then proceed to form the rest of the empanadas.
  • Once all the empanadas are ready to be fried, heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the empanadas, turning once, about 4 minutes per side until they are deep golden. Do not overcrowd your frying pan; for a 12-inch pan, fry 3 or 4 at a time, giving them enough room to turn them when ready.
  • Remember, the oil is very hot, so be careful. Once ready, place them over the paper towel to drain or over a baking rack. You can eat them cold or warm. If you want to keep them warm, place them on a baking sheet in the oven at 250 degrees until you finishing cooking the rest of the empanadas.
How to make Crab Empanadas Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (7)

Provecho and have fun cooking!

Mely,

More recipes:
Ceviche Verde-Green Mexican Ceviche

📖 Recipe

How to make Crab Empanadas Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (8)

Crab empanadas

Mely Martínez

These crab empanadas are popular among beachgoers along the Gulf Coast of Mexico. Empanada vendors carry a basket covered with a tablecloth protecting the empanadas from the sand and will offer you shrimp, fish or crab empanadas.

5 from 8 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Antojitos, Appetizers

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 8

Calories 416 kcal

Ingredients

CRAB STUFFING

  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • ¾ cup chopped white onion
  • 1 Lb. crabmeat
  • 2 garlic cloves finely diced
  • 1 Serrano pepper chopped
  • 1 cup chopped tomato
  • cup chopped cilantro
  • Salt and pepper to season

EMPANADA DOUGH

  • 2 ¼ cup All-purpose flour 300 grams
  • 5 Tbsp. vegetable shortening 60 grams
  • 1 cup of beer (any beer will do or use 1 cup water, plus 1
  • ½ tsp. baking powder)
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 ½ cup vegetable oil for frying the empanadas

Instructions

FOR THE STUFFING:

  • Heat the oil in a medium-size frying pan and add the chopped onion. Cook for a couple of minutes and stir in the garlic and crabmeat. Keep cooking for 2 more minutes and add the Serrano pepper and chopped tomato. Stir and place the lid on, and reduce heat to allow the tomato juices to release.

  • Cook for about 7-8 minutes, season with salt and pepper and allow them to cool down. The stuffing has to be cool when you use it to fill the empanadas.

TO PREPARE THE DOUGH:

  • Place flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl and mix well. Next, add the shortening and, with the help of a fork, incorporate it with the flour until it resembles coarse oatmeal. Now, slowly pour the beer and stir to form the dough.

  • Place the dough on a floured work surface. Knead the dough for a couple of minutes until it is soft and smooth.

  • Place the dough back in the bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes. This resting time will release the gluten that will help you roll the dough easily.

  • After the resting time, separate the dough into 16 equal pieces. They should be about the size of a golf ball and will correspond to one empanada each. Cover them with the plastic wrap while you roll one at a time to form the empanadas.

  • Lightly dust your work surface and rolling pin with flour and start rolling each piece of dough to form a 5-inch diameter circle. If you have a hard time forming a round shape, use a small bowl and place it upside down over the already-rolled dough, then gently press it down to cut the dough into a circle.

  • Once you’ve formed the circle, place 3 tablespoons of crab filling on one side of the circle and fold the empanada, making sure the edge of the top part will be about a centimeter behind the bottom edge.

  • Using a kitchen brush, very lightly moisten the edge with water. Now, pinch and fold the edges into half-inch sections towards the center, using your thumb and your middle and index fingers, overlapping each fold until you finish at the other end of the empanada.

  • Place the empanada over a clean kitchen towel and cover with plastic wrap, then proceed to form the rest of the empanadas.

  • Once all the empanadas are ready to be fried, heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the empanadas, turning once, about 4 minutes per side until they are deep golden. Do not overcrowd your frying pan; for a 12-inch pan, fry 3 or 4 at a time, giving them enough room to turn them when ready. Remember, the oil is very hot, so be careful. Once ready, place them over the paper towel to drain or over a baking rack. You can eat them cold or warm. If you want to keep them warm, place them on a baking sheet in the oven at 250 degrees until you finishing cooking the rest of the empanadas.

Notes

  • In my hometown, we usually add beer to the dough to form the batter, but you can use water and baking powder as indicated above.
  • I use almost the same process to make the dough as when I’m making flour tortillas, the only difference is using beer instead of plain water. You can use this same dough to make empanadas with other types of fillings, like potato, ground beef picadillo, cheese and ham, chicken, or anything you can imagine!

Nutrition

Serving: 2empanadasCalories: 416kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 14gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 759mgPotassium: 270mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 100IUVitamin C: 8.6mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 2.3mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Mexican Appetizers

  • Mangonada Recipe
  • Hot Dogs a la Mexicana
  • Mexican Chicken Skewers
  • Huitlacoche Tacos

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply & Rating

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Cynthia

    How to make Crab Empanadas Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (13)
    I’m so excited to try this! Just to double check, if I use 1 cup of water, it’s 1 1/2 tsp baking powder right? And, is it ok for the water to be cold or room temperature? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Mely Martínez

      Hello Cynthia,
      Water is better to be warm.

      Reply

  2. Lizandra

    Hi! If using beer, do I still need to add the baking soda?

    Reply

    • Mely Martínez

      Helo Lizadra,
      No, only use one of the two.

      Reply

  3. PAULINE

    Love the idea of empanadas stuffed with crab.

    Reply

  4. Claudia Quinn

    How to make Crab Empanadas Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (14)
    Se miran deliciosas ! where do you buy the crab meat?
    saludos desde California

    Reply

    • mmartinez

      Hello Claudia,
      Usually, any supermarket sells the crab meat in small plastic containers in their fridge section close to the seafood.

      Reply

  5. Rocio M Banda

    Hi Mely! Love your site! Glad to see food from Tamaulipas! I grew up in Anahuac, a small border town. I tried the dough recipe and required less beer/liquid than stated. I used a little more than half. My cooking instincts told me no to add everything at once. Also, I baked the empanadas instead of frying. I brush them with egg and turned beautiful!

    Reply

    • mmartinez

      Hello Rocio,
      Glad to know you follow your cooking skills when making the crab empanadas. Saludos! Thanks for the baking tips, I'm sure it will be of great help for other cooks.

      Reply

  6. Ros Emely

    This looks so good, I love empanadas and crab is one of my favorites 🙂

    Reply

  7. loves2spin

    Oh my! That sounds and looks so delicious!

    Reply

How to make Crab Empanadas Recipe | Mexican Food Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is empanada food in English? ›

Empanadas, or beef turnovers, are discs of pastry packed with meat. Some turnover recipes call for all manner of fillings, but this GOYA® Empanada recipe features a delicious tomato, onion, garlic and beef mixture.

What is an empanada in Mexico? ›

Empanadas are named after the Spanish verb 'empanar' which means to coat or wrap in bread. An empanada is a fried or baked turnover in the shape of a half-moon made with flour dough or corn flour dough. You can stuff them with any number of things.

What is the difference between Spanish empanadas and Mexican empanadas? ›

The Spanish recipe was made with bread dough, the Mexican recipe with corn masa dough. This is where Mexican empanada history takes over. Each region in Mexico has their own version of the empanada.

What country did empanadas originate from? ›

Empanadas have their origins in Galicia (Spain) and Portugal. They first appeared in Medieval Iberia during the time of the Moorish invasions. A cookbook published in Catalan in 1520 mentions empanadas filled with seafood among its recipes of Catalan, Italian, French, and Arabian food.

Is empanada a junk food? ›

While it's quite tasty, it isn't the healthiest meal you can consume. The great news is you can still get your empanada fix with all the flavor, but less calories, fat, and more nutrition with healthier versions.

Is an empanada a Mexican food? ›

Street food, commonly known as “antojitos” in Mexico, is very popular and there is a good reason. It is usually inexpensive, fast, and delicious! One of the most popular antojitos is empanadas. You can find them throughout Mexico and there are many different varieties and ways to make them.

What do Jamaicans call empanadas? ›

The Many Names of Empanadas

For instance, Americans call them meat pies, and Jamaicans call them beef patties. At the same time, Indians call them samosas, and people in Latin America or Spain call them pastelillos or pastelitos. The glory of this dish is that there is not a right or wrong way to cook it.

What do Mexicans eat with empanadas? ›

Side Dishes
  • Instant Pot Mexican Rice. Are you on the hunt for an easy-to-make, spicy rice dish that pairs perfectly with meat-based empanadas? ...
  • Black Beans And Rice. ...
  • Authentic Homemade Refried Beans. ...
  • Plantain Chips. ...
  • Mexican Black Beans. ...
  • Cilantro Lime Rice. ...
  • Oven Roasted Corn On The Cob. ...
  • Mexican Sweet Corn Cakes.
Mar 9, 2024

What is empanada in Brazil? ›

In Brazil, an empanada is called a pastel ( pl. : pastéis) and consists of half-circle or rectangle-shaped thin crust pies with assorted fillings, fried in vegetable oil.

Which country makes the best empanadas? ›

From Bolivia's salteñas to the Dominican Republic's catibias, just about every country makes their own version. Two countries, however are internationally renowned for their takes on the empanada: Colombia and Argentina.

What American food are empanadas similar to? ›

Empanadas – pastry turnovers filled with a variety of savory ingredients – are either baked or fried and also can be known as empanadillas or pastelillos. They're similar to meat pies popular in other cultures like pasties in England, Natchitoches hand pies in Louisiana, and Russian blintzes.

What is the Italian version of empanada? ›

The panzerotto is to be found throughout southern Italy. In Naples it goes under the name of pizza fritta and in Salento calzone but his majesty the panzerotto reigns in Bari and the surrounding area. This is the version we shall be comparing with the Argentine empanada.

What are side dishes for empanadas? ›

The best side dishes to serve with Empanadas are white beans, marinara sauce, sweet potato cubes, french fries, salsa, corn on the cob, acorn squash and tamales. Some people also prefer healthy options like arugula salad, guacamole, chimichurri or jalapeno poppers.

Are empanadas fried or baked? ›

Both cooking methods produce delicious empanadas. If you want a healthier merienda, bake them in the oven. If you're working with less time, frying them is the way to go.

What are Puerto Rican empanadas made of? ›

These Puerto Rican Empanadillas are made with fried buttery pie dough stuffed with seasoned ground beef, peppers and olives. Many Puerto Rican recipes use the classic Picadillo filling we're making today, like these Alcapurrias I'm sure you'll love if you enjoy these Empanadillas.

What is empanada called in English? ›

noun. pasty [noun] a small pie made by wrapping pastry around meat, vegetables, or cheese and baking it. pie [noun] food baked in a covering of pastry. (Translation of empanada from the PASSWORD Spanish–English Dictionary © 2014 K Dictionaries Ltd)

What is the English version of empanada? ›

I think the closest word to it in 'English' would be pie despite how they look. However, I do believe that people would just call them Empanadas in English. I should have thought it obvious that an empanada is a "pasty" or just conceivably a "turnover'.

What is empanada in English slang? ›

Colloquial. empanada mental [f] mental confusion.

What is the American version of empanadas? ›

The Many Names of Empanadas

For instance, Americans call them meat pies, and Jamaicans call them beef patties. At the same time, Indians call them samosas, and people in Latin America or Spain call them pastelillos or pastelitos.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Kieth Sipes

Last Updated:

Views: 6544

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (67 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kieth Sipes

Birthday: 2001-04-14

Address: Suite 492 62479 Champlin Loop, South Catrice, MS 57271

Phone: +9663362133320

Job: District Sales Analyst

Hobby: Digital arts, Dance, Ghost hunting, Worldbuilding, Kayaking, Table tennis, 3D printing

Introduction: My name is Kieth Sipes, I am a zany, rich, courageous, powerful, faithful, jolly, excited person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.