Empanadas and quesadillas are the two most common savory snacks from Latin American cuisines and are confused with each other. That’s because both of them are made from dough and are filled with veggies, cheese, and meat, and are cooked to melt the cheese. Still, there are some significant differences between the two, which we are adding to this article!
Empanadas vs Quesadillas
Empanadas
The empanadas are basically small pies that entail a dough-based shell that’s stuffed with different fillings. The edges of the dough are crimped to seal in the delicious filling. The empanadas can be fried or baked, and in most cases, they are served as appetizers or snacks and have a doughy texture. These snacks belong to Spain and came to Latin American countries during the colonial era.
In the majority of cases, the empanadas are filled with savory fillings, including shrimps, chicken, and ground beef. The empanadas with chicken and ground beef are baked, but the shrimp-based empanadas are mostly fried. The empanadas are known to have a semicircular shape and tend to be bigger as compared to quesadillas. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that empanadas can be big enough to become the dinner meal, but it depends on where you are getting them from.
In addition, they can be easily eaten with hands but don’t forget a tissue as it can be huge. The empanadas are cooked by frying or baking, and if you want to bake them, make sure that the dough isn’t too sticky as it’s essential for it to hold the shape. As far as frying is concerned, you can opt for a deep fryer or regular frying pan. These snacks tend to be more expensive because it is known to have a complex flavor, which is why more ingredients are added.
In fact, the size is bigger, which requires more filling. With the addition of multiple ingredients, the flavor becomes more complex and the dough is also tastier. Similarly, a higher percentage of meat increases the fat, protein, and calorie content, which means it’s not very healthy. To illustrate, one empanada tends to have 150 calories to 200 calories. In addition, the fat content ranges from 5g to 10g. Lastly, they are popular in Europe and Spain, and you can easily find them at Latin American restaurants.
Quesadillas
The quesadillas can be defined as tacos minus the hard shell. To illustrate, there is a short tortilla that’s filled with cheese or other types of fillings. The tortilla’s edges are folded over to contain the filling and prevent the fallout. As far as preparation is concerned, they are either fried or grilled. In addition, these snacks belong to Mexico, which could be the reason they look like tacos.
The quesadillas are made with a variety of fillings, but cheese is a common ingredient. In addition, onions or peppers are also used. However, they also have beans, veggies, and meat as filling and are fried or grilled for preparation. The quesadillas look like flat tacos and are smaller if we consider the size (yes, they easily fit the hands). These snacks are usually smaller, which is why they are served as appetizers or snacks.
These taco-like snacks are eaten with a knife and fork to make sure the cheese and sauces don’t drip on your clothes. These snacks can only be fried or grilled (grilling is more common, but it’s recommended to opt for a deep fryer if you want to fry the quesadillas). For the most part, the quesadillas are more affordable as you need fewer ingredients to bring out the flavor, and they aren’t very big either.
Since they only have veggies and cheese, the flavor is quite simple, and the dough tastes pretty regular. The best thing about quesadillas is that the filling has limited ingredients, which means it’s a healthier choice. One serving of quesadillas has not more than 120 calories and only has 2g to 4g of fat. Last but not least, these snacks are more popular in the United States and Mexico, particularly in Mexican restaurants.
The Bottom Line
On a concluding note, both these snacks are delicious, but empanadas are known for a complex flavor, while quesadillas are recommended for people who like simpler flavors. In addition, the quesadillas are healthier as compared to empanadas.