Gluten Free & Keto Empanadas (with a flaky pie crust!)

Traditionally a beautiful Argentinian delight, you'll find these gluten free and keto empanadas to be bursting with flavor and all wrapped up in a suuuper flaky pie crust!

📝 Ingredients

• empanda press (optional)
• 1 batch gluten free & keto pie crust (*)
• extra virgin olive oil (for cooking)
• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1/3 onion (very finely chopped)
• 1 red bell pepper (seeded and chopped)
• kosher salt (to taste)
• black pepper (freshly ground, to taste)
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon xylitol (or sweetener of choice)
• 1/2 cup pitted green olives (rinsed well and halved lengthwise)
• 1 egg (lightly beaten for egg wash)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1See recipe video for guidance on the pie crust!
2. 2Make a batch of our keto pie crust and chill while you make the filling.
3. 3Heat olive oil in a large pot over high heat. Cook beef, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned but not completely cooked through. Transfer to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon, leaving as much fat in pan as possible.
4. 4Reduce heat to medium and cook onion and bell pepper, stir- ring, until tender but not browned, 6–8 minutes; season with salt and black pepper. Add cumin, paprika, oregano, and cayenne and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chicken broth and reserved beef along with any accumulated juices to pot. Stir in sug- ar and season to taste with salt and black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring and scraping up any brown bits, until most of the liquid is evaporated, 15–20 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl, allow to come to room temperature, cover, and chill at least 3 hours
5. 5Preheat oven to 375°F/190°C and line a baking tray with a mat.
6. 6Roll out dough between parchment paper and cut out 8 rounds. Place 2-3 tablespoons filling (depending on the size of your em- panadas) in the center of each round and top with a couple olive halves. Fold round over filling and pinch edges to seal, using a fork to crimp the edges. Transfer empanada to prepared tray, spacing 1” apart. Repeat with remaining rounds (you’ll get about roughly 8 large empanadas out of a batch).
7. 7Note: a few of you have reported back that using an 'empanda press' to handle the dough makes the process absolutely seamless (and I'm dying to try!).
8. 8Brush with egg wash and bake, rotating tray halfway through, until golden brown and slightly darker around the edges, 25–35 minutes.