Sep 10 2026
RestaurantsCilantro & Ajo South Side2 Cheese And Ham Empanadas Recipe

2 Cheese And Ham Empanadas Recipe

Time1h 10m
Serves10

Make 2 Cheese And Ham Empanadas Recipe in just 1h 10m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Dough

Optional for serving

Method

Dough

  1. 1

    Mix dry ingredients

    In a large bowl combine 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp sugar. Whisk briefly to distribute.

  2. 2

    Cut in butter

    Add 10 tbs cold unsalted butter (cubed). Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut the butter into the flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.

  3. 3

    Add liquids and chill

    Mix 3 tbs cold water and 6 tbs cold milk together. Drizzle into the flour-butter mixture a little at a time, stirring with a fork until a shaggy dough forms. Do not overwork. Gather dough into a ball, flatten to a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes (up to 2 hours).

  4. 4

    Roll and cut

    On a lightly floured surface, roll chilled dough to about 1/8-inch (3 mm) thickness. Using a 4.5–5 inch round cutter (or small plate), cut out 10–12 circles. Re-roll scraps as needed, keeping dough cold.

  5. 5

    Egg wash

    Beat 1 large egg with 1 tsp water in a small bowl to make an egg wash. Brush edges of circles before sealing.

Filling

  1. 6

    Sauté aromatics

    Heat 1 tbs olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1 finely chopped onion and cook 4–5 minutes until softened and translucent. Add 1 tsp minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.

  2. 7

    Combine filling ingredients

    Turn heat to low. Add 2 cups diced cooked ham, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper to the skillet. Stir for 1–2 minutes just to warm and combine flavors. Remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes. Stir in 2 tbs chopped fresh parsley, 1 cup shredded cheddar and 1 cup shredded mozzarella so cheese starts to melt into the warm mixture but is not fully liquid.

  3. 8

    Portion filling

    Place about 2–3 tablespoons of filling in the center of each dough circle, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Do not overfill to avoid bursting while baking.

  4. 9

    Seal empanadas

    Brush the edge of each dough circle with egg wash. Fold dough over to form a half-moon and press edges together to seal. Crimp edges with a fork or make a decorative fold. Place empanadas on a parchment-lined baking sheet spaced 1 inch apart.

  5. 10

    Brush and bake

    Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Brush tops of empanadas with egg wash. Optionally, cut a small slit in the top of each to release steam. Bake on the middle rack for 18–22 minutes, until golden brown and puffed. Rotate the pan halfway through for even browning.

  6. 11

    Cool and serve

    Let empanadas cool on the baking sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool another 5 minutes. Serve warm with hot sauce or chimichurri if desired.

More from Cilantro & Ajo South Side