Posted August 5, 2010 by Marta Holmberg
Your bellies are about to start rumblin’ for our next recipe of the week theme: appetizers! Yum. To kick things off, former PETA intern Annie is sharing one of her delish recipes with us. Take it away, Annie!
This week I’m sharing a recipe for an appetizer that you can snack on anytime of the day. I give you “empanadas”! I’m from Mexico, and empanadas are a classic over there. It’s a great dish to serve to people as a snack, as an appetizer, or even as the main dish. You can even take them for lunch (now that school’s about to start back up!), and they will help you get through the day.
You can fill them with pretty much anything, and there are so many vegan options out there that the possibilities are endless. I like the classic combination of beans and corn—ingredients that are a staple at my house.
Mash the black beans, the corn and the salsa with a fork. Season it with salt, pepper and any of your favorite spices.
Take a small piece of the pizza dough and flatten it down with your hands until it becomes a flat disk. Place a tablespoon of the filling in the middle of the dough disk (don’t overfill). Fold the dough over the filling and close it by pressing your fingers or using a fork along the edge. You can make them as little or as big as you want.
Place on a baking sheet and bake them at 350F for 20 minutes.
They will be golden, crispy, and delicious by the time they come out. You can make them with your favorite combination, like black beans and bananas (don’t judge, it’s delicious!), vegan chorizo and potatoes, spinach and artichokes … you can even do a dessert one with peanut butter and bananas! You can use anything you have on hand. The possibilities are endless.
I serve mine with guacamole and some extra salsa. This recipe is perfect when you have friends over—they’ll love it! And because it’s a pocket food, you can eat it with one hand and help animals with the other! I even eat my empanada while standing on one hand … OK, I can’t do that, but if you can, you should totally enter the “show us your tricks” contest; I’m sure that would be more entertaining than paying for elephants to get beaten in the circus.
Enjoy!
-Annie
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Too long to explain here, it's long enough for a novel.
Father loves to farm, be self sustainable, loves to read, he's a antiques/vintage auctioneer, art student, and looks like mr. Rogers. My mother is a Montessori teacher and is amazing with children, all about local organic foods, loves gardening, cooking etc. my sister who is nine years older than me was into indie music and introduced me to all sorts of things at a young age. This all rubbed of on me and from that base I grew into similar things. I'm an INFJ
I'm tall, a geek, nacho - obsessed, I love sewing and Cath Kidston, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.)
Jersey girl now I'm all country.
I love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
Life On A Tour Bus
I am Angela. When I am not helping animals I am listening to music, reading, or playing video games. My spirit animal is a fox and I love nature. What else is there to know? Want to know anything about me, need advice or anything message me :)
Well let's just say life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride. I love all my pets and would do anything for them. I have one dog, two cats, a ferret and my babygirl shaymin,(the cutest hedgehog alive) I'm into all different kinds of music. I'm a singer myself and love art.
208 days ago
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Love this recipe. SO easy and fun to play with/change up! Garbanzos and green peas are yummy and edamame and carrots too!
“Accidentally vegan foods” link didn’t work…this one does…
http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/Refrigerated-and-Frozen-Foods.aspx
634 days ago
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I like using crescent rolls instead of pizza dough, because they close up really nice and looks pretty when they’re done. Then letting a bit of veg friendly butter melt on top and sprinkling chili powder on. So good!
1008 days ago
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My friend from Brazil made these for a tapas bar…
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
1008 days ago
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Those sure look yummy!!! Thx for sharing…
1017 days ago
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i think i may just bring some into school. maybe to share with others for lunch??
1017 days ago
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I’m gonna try this today. As a vegan its proably less expensive for me to cook than to buy frozen foods every two days, so now I’ll start cooking, besides there’s not a ton to do over summer vacation, might as well pick up a useful hobby
1018 days ago
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That looks delicious I’m gonna try it!
1019 days ago
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I didn’t have any of the ingredients listed, so I improvised. I had a filling of potatoes and beans in tomatoe sauce, mixed with a little garlic and onions. I have to make some pizza dough with the little flour I had left, I only had enought to make two. They turned out great and I also have some great burrito fillings for later.
1019 days ago
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Miss you, roomie! Why didn’t you make these for me?
1019 days ago
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Woozaz!! They sound so good! They remind me a of samosa, which is a traditional Indian food…but these are delicious looking (and I bet tasting!) comida mexicana!!
1019 days ago
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it looks so yummy!
it seems easy to prepare also, and thats good for me lol.. definitively i have to try them =)
1019 days ago
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oh my god that looks so delicious
annie make me some
1020 days ago
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Mmmm.. I’ll think I’ll try those!
1020 days ago
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It’s like Mexican calzones! And I’m glad you posted an inside shot, too. So yum!
1020 days ago
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That looks amazingly delicious!
I’m deff trying that as soon as my mom buys the stuff for it.
Thanks for the recipe!