An empanada is a thin, round pastry that is stuffed with sweet or spicy fillings. It is folded in half and the edges crimped before frying or baking. Empanada's can be filled with chicken, beef or even cheese or apples.

Empanadas are a Spanish dish and each region or culture has their own favorite way of filling empanadas. Empanada dough can either be made at home from scratch or can be bought pre-made and frozen. Goya has a line of frozen empanada shells that are sold wherever Goya products are sold. A refrigerated pie crust can also serve as an empanada shell.http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/chicken-empanadas-recipe/index.html

Puerto Rican Empanadas are usually stuffed with ground beef or shredded chicken. Other ingredients for the filling include onion, green bell pepper, garlic, fresh cilantro, green olifes, tomato paste and a packet of sazon, some prefer use the kind with coriander and annatto. Before mixing the ingredients for the filling, the meat must be cooked. After rolling out the dough, place the filling on one half of the circle and fold in half. Press the edges with a fork to seal it into a pouch. The empanadas are then fried in oil for about 5 minutes per side.http://www.recipezaar.com/Puerto-Rican-Fried-Meat-Pies-Empanadas-152703

Mexican empanadas can be served at breakfast or as a dessert item. The fillings of the empanada can contain various sweets such as pumpkin, yams or cream. fruit fillings are also common. Empanadas are not only considered a sweet treat. They can also be filled with meat, cheese, and vegetables. In some parts, empanadas filled with chicken and cheese are eaten at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

• 3 cups plus 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 2 Spanish chorizo links (spicy dried pork sausage; 6 to 8 ounces), ground
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 pound boiling potatoes, peeled and shredded
• 2 jalapenos, seeded and finely chopped
• 2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/3 cup grated queso blanco or Monterey Jack cheese
• 8 frozen empanada or turnover wrappers, thawed