Empanadas Are a Perfect Snack for Eating Now or Making Ahead

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There’s no such thing as eating a single empanada: Have one of these perfect pastries, with their buttery crusts and hearty fillings, and you’re gonna want another ASAP. This recipe ups the traditional empanada’s flavor profile by adding briny olives and sweet raisins to that delicious spicy beef. And these guys to be paired with something equally unique. Our suggestion: Strawberry Guava Diet Coke. It’s refreshing, light, and satisfying, with the same sweet fruit notes of your new favorite snack.

Empanadas freeze well, too, so you can make a big batch some weekend and have months of snacks ready to go in a few minutes. It’s best to freeze them before you cook them, but you can freeze them after, too. If you freeze them unbaked, lay them side by side on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Make sure they don’t touch, or they’ll freeze together. Freeze until solid, then transfer the empanadas into a freezer bag. Just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time when you cook them.

If you freeze cooked empanadas, wrap them individually in plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn. To reheat, unwrap as many empanadas as you want and warm in a low oven or toaster oven, or reheat them for a few minutes in the microwave.

Frozen or fresh, the tropical notes in this familiar but new flavor mingle beautifully with hot and savory empanadas. Whether you’re serving them as an appetizer, grabbing a few for a lunch on-the-go, or savoring them on a special occasion, have a Strawberry Guava Diet Coke (or two) close at hand — and make sure there are plenty of empanadas to go around.

Get the recipe: Easy Empanadas With Strawberry Guava Diet Coke from Serious Eats

This post was created by the Kitchn Creative Studio and is sponsored by Diet Coke. 
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