Empanadas – an Argentinian Wood-fired Oven World Cup Dish

Argentina hold the FIFA Number 1 ranking for teams in the 2026 World Cup and Orchard Ovens is presenting you with a top-rated Argentinian dish to cook in your wood-fired oven.

Empanadas are a hugely popular starter dish in Argentina, often eaten alongside a glass of red wine, typically a cheeky Malbec.  But did you know that these delicious starters, comprising a crispy pastry dough filled with beef and onions, and flavoured with herbs and spices, are cooked in a wood-fired oven, by real flame?

That means it’s easy for you to use your Valoriani wood-fired oven from Orchard Ovens to rustle up your own mouthwatering empanadas, if you know how.

Forming the empanada dough

An empanada dough is made by forming a crumbly mixture made by rubbing around 120g of butter into 500g of flour, using a traditional pastry rubbing-in method.  The mixture is then transformed into dough with the addition of an egg yoke and a cup of milk.  Once kneaded, it should be wrapped in cling film and left in the fridge overnight and no more than one day. 

Ingredients for the filling and equipment to prepare

For the filling, you can really experiment with food that you like to eat.  If you want a more traditional take on an empanada, buy in around 1 lb of minced beef, plus some garlic, bell peppers, jalapeños, chorizo and spices such as oregano, cumin and paprika.  Also have some tomato paste, cornflour and olive oil at hand and prepare about 380ml of beef stock.  You might want to put in other additions, according to your taste, such as olives, or potato cubes.  Another thing to make sure you have to hand is a 15cm (6-inch) diameter circular pastry cutter and you will also need another egg.

Light your wood-fired oven in advance and get it up to around 200-230°C (400-450°F).  Then, about 20 minutes before you wish to work with it, take the dough out of the fridge.

Cooking the filling in the wood-fired oven

Grab yourself a skillet pan and get cracking with the filling.  Firstly, you will need to quickly sear the chorizo and soften the garlic (two cloves should do it), in the pan, in some olive oil.  Be careful not to burn your hand on the pan handle, by using extra-thick oven-proof gloves.

Once you have browned these two items off, add the other ingredients to the skillet, mixing well and breaking up the mince.  This mixture will then need to be left simmering in the oven, until the stock has been just about absorbed. Remove the pan and set aside, so the filling can cool.

Creating the empanadas ready for the wood-fired oven

Turn to your dough and divide it in half.  Roll one half out to a thickness of around 1.5mm, so fairly thin.  Cut out circles, using your pastry cutter.  Repeat this stage with the other half of the dough.

Once you have your pastry circles, add some of the filling – two to three teaspoons or so – to the centre of the round, leaving enough capacity for you to brush and dampen the pastry edges with water and fold and crimp the pastry edge, forming a packet around the filling.  Brush the pastries with beaten egg, so they can turn golden in the oven.

Cooking the empanadas on the wood-fired oven floor

Cook your empanadas on the oven floor of your wood-fired oven, turning them around during cooking, so get an even finish and bake.  Remove when the pastry has turned golden and lovely and flaky.  Cook time should only be 10-15 minutes.

If you don’t fancy beef-filled empanadas, experiment with chicken, pork or even tuna.

Photo by Anton on Unsplash

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Editors notes

Orchard Ovens is the domestic and commercial pizza oven supplier in the UK of Valoriani, based in Reggello, Tuscany - the manufacturer of Italy's hugely respected Valoriani pizza ovens, known as the Maserati of pizza ovens and the kings of clay. These ovens are made from superb refractory clay - cotto clay - found in the family's quarry and unique, thanks to having just the right alumina. This allows Valoriani ovens to heat up quickly and retain heat superbly, bring huge advantages to homeowners, as well as restaurant owners, hotels, pubs, mobile caterers, pizzerias, takeaways and more.

Orchard Ovens supplies some of Britain's best-known restaurants and chefs, whilst it is also a specialist creator of outdoor kitchens and wood-fired oven builds for the rich and famous, as well as everyday homeowners wishing to add value to their home and enjoy an outdoor lifestyle to the full.