Venezuelan Beef Empanadas Recipe

These amazing Venezuelan beef empanadas are super easy to make. Gluten Free and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner idea. Kid approved as well! 

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Venezuelan Beef Empanadas Recipe With Hot Sauce

One of the benefits of being both Latin and Jewish is that I have a lot of spice running through my veins. My Grandfather who is originally from Romania eats Hot Peppers like he’s eating an apple – and in every meal.

I am definitely not like him but I do love a good Hot Sauce. Some hot sauces just offer heat, but I want flavor as well. The idea is to take an ordinary meal to the next level. You know when you are trying out savory items and think..MMM..something’s missing here..Well, the answer is GOOD Hot sauce!

I had the opportunity to try out the 4 distinctive flavors of El Yucateco Hot Sauce: Black Label Reserve, Red Habanero Sauce, Green Habanero Sauce, and XXXtra Hot Kutbil-ik Sauce.

Each one focuses on a different pepper and you can see it on the coloring of each liquid. Personally, for me, the Black Label Reserve Chile Habanero (only available at Walmart) is the best hot sauce I’ve tried in a long time, because it has deep smoky flavor along with the mild heat that hits the top of your tongue, absolutely amazing.

I paired this hot sauce with my all time favorite childhood meal: Beef Empanadas. In Venezuela there’s an Island called Margarita, it has beautiful scenery and beaches. There were ladies making empanadas right on the sand. They had foldable tables and a portable fryer.The dough was placed on one side and tons of fillings in a cooler. Does not get any better than that.

There were ladies making empanadas right on the sand. They had foldable tables and a portable fryer.The dough was placed on one side and tons of fillings in a cooler. Does not get any better than that.

Venezuelan Beef Empanadas differ from the Argentinian or Chilean Empanadas in the dough. The latter countries use a flour dough whereas Venezuelan empanadas are made with pre-cooked Maize Meal (or corn flour) so they are Gluten Free.

The dough is very easy to make and only require 3 ingredients: water, salt, and the Corn Flour.  The raw dough’s texture is soft and flexible but not elastic, it resembles the texture of play-doh. In the video below you will see my trick to making Empanadas in a flash.

The filling and the dough can be both made in advance but assembly is better done last minute. You will see how easy they are to make. I use the meat filling in all sorts of dishes like pasta, shepherd’s pie, and more. That’s why I always make a double batch and freeze half. So next time I am craving Empanadas my filling is already done.

The full recipe is located at the bottom of the post but here’s a short video on how to make them:

See? Easy!. To assemble an empanada you don’t any of those fancy schmancy tools I see advertised on TV. All you need is plastic wrap.

Grab a piece of plastic wrap, set it on the counter, add the dough and flatten evenly with your hands, add the filling and then with the help of the plastic wrap, fold over one side of the dough into the other.

The easiest way is to use the plastic wrap while you are doing this instead of touching the dough directly. It is very important to seal the edges well so the filling doesn’t seep out during cooking.

Venezuelan Beef Empanadas are ideal for parties, family get-togethers or just a weeknight dinner. You can make them any size you like, from little ones to big ones.

For this recipe, I made big ones because each one is one whole meal, well for me anyway. My hubby ate all 3 you see in the picture. Thankfully I made an extra one for me.

I spread El Yucateco Sauce on the bottom of the plate so the freshly fried Empanadas can absorb as much flavor as possible.

My hubby ate all 3 you see in the picture. Thankfully I made an extra one for me. I spread El Yucateco Sauce on the bottom of the plate so the freshly fried Empanadas can absorb as much flavor as possible.

I found El Yucateco Hot Sauce and my Corn Flour at Publix because they always have everything and that’s where I usually do all my food shopping. El Yucateco Hot Sauce was located in the Ethnic Aisle where all the Hot Sauces usually are.

I hope you can try this delicious Venezuelan Beef Empanadas Recipe at home. If you do, please upload a pic on Instagram and tag me @Livingsweetmoments or use the hashtag #LivingSweet. I promise to repost it.