Cheese and Corn Empanadas (Empanadas con Choclo y Queso)

Cheese and Corn Empanadas (Empanadas con Choclo y Queso)

The Spruce / Christine Ma

Prep: 35 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Resting Time: 60 mins
Total: 115 mins
Servings: 10 to 12 servings

These vegetarian empanadas are filled with sweet corn and a creamy cheese sauce. If you prefer something heartier, add some barbecue chicken or pork to the filling.

Ingredients

For the Dough:

  • 1/2 cup cold water

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 large egg white

  • 1 teaspoon vinegar

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 3 tablespoons shortening

For the Filling:

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 small onion, chopped

  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped

  • 4 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen

  • 1 tablespoon water

  • 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Cheese Sauce:

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 10 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup milk

  • 1/2 cup cream

  • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese

  • 1/2 teaspoon grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or taste

For Assembly:

  • 1 large egg yolk

  • 1 tablespoon water

Steps to Make It

Prepare the Dough

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    dough ingredients

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  2. In a bowl, beat the water, egg, egg white, and vinegar together. Set aside.

    water, egg, egg white, and vinegar mixture in a bowl

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  3. In a separate bowl, mix together the 3 cups of flour and salt.

    flour and salt in a bowl

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  4. Cut the shortening into the flour mix with a pastry blender or two butter knives.

    flour mixture in a bowl, two butter knives

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  5. Make a well in the center of the flour mix and pour the liquid ingredients from the first bowl into the center. Mix the wet and dry ingredients with a fork until it becomes stiff.

    dough in a bowl

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  6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead it just until all the flour is incorporated and the dough is smooth.

    dough ball on a cutting board

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  7. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, but never more than 24 hours.

    dough ball wrapped in plastic

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Prepare the Filling

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    empanada filling ingredients

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  2. In a heavy skillet over medium heat, heat the butter and olive oil and sauté the onion and red pepper until soft and fragrant, 5 to 8 minutes.

    vegetables in a pan

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  3. Add the corn and the water and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes more. Stir in the cilantro and cook for 1 to 2 more minutes.

    filling mixture in a pan

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  4. Remove from heat, season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside to cool.

    empanada filling in a pan

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Prepare the Cheese Sauce

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    cheese sauce ingredients

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  2. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Whisk in the flour over medium heat, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes.

    flour and butter in a saucepan

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  3. Whisk in the milk and cream, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens and comes just to a boil.

    milk added to the roux in the saucepan

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  4. Stir in the cheeses and cumin, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

    cheese sauce in a saucepan

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  5. Stir vegetable mixture into cheese mixture and let cool (or chill in a refrigerator for a few minutes).

    vegetables added to the cheese sauce in the saucepan

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Assemble Empanadas

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Cheese and Corn Empanadas (Empanadas con Choclo y Queso) ingredients

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  2. Separate empanada dough into golf ball size pieces, and roll each one into a smooth ball. Let rest 5 minutes.

    dough balls on a cutting board

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  3. On a floured surface, roll each ball of dough into a circle about 6 inches in diameter.

    rolled out dough balls

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  4. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of filling in the middle of the circle. Brush the edges of the dough along the bottom half of the circle lightly with water.

    empanadas filling on top of dough

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  5. Fold the top half of the circle of dough over the filling to form a semicircle, and press edges together firmly to seal.

    assembled empanadas

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  6. Brush the pressed edge with a little bit of water, and fold the edge over itself, pinching and crimping as you go to make a braid-like effect. (See Tips and Techniques for Beautiful Empanadas). Place empanadas on a baking sheet.

    empanadas on a floured surface

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

  7. Mix egg yolk with water and brush mixture lightly over the entire surface of each empanada.

    empanadas on a baking sheet

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  8. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown and slightly puffed.

    Cheese and Corn Empanadas (Empanadas con Choclo y Queso) on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Christine Ma

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
366 Calories
16g Fat
45g Carbs
11g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10 to 12
Amount per serving
Calories 366
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 21%
Saturated Fat 8g 38%
Cholesterol 91mg 30%
Sodium 370mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 45g 17%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 11g
Vitamin C 19mg 97%
Calcium 121mg 9%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 251mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)