If you are a fan of savory snacks, we are certain that you’ve heard about pasties and empanadas, but not many people know the differences. Ranging from ingredients to origin, everything is different about these delicious treats. So, let’s have a look at pasties vs. empanadas to understand how these two savory treats are different from each other.
Pasties vs Empanadas
Pasties
Pasties are defined as small pies that are made with a pastry crust – the crust is filled with potatoes, meat, and vegetables. These pasties are cut into different shapes, but triangles are most popular and originated in the British colonial era, particularly in Canada and United States. In particular, the pasties were first made in the 1800s as they became popular among coal miners when they were looking for time-efficient food options.
On the other hand, many people believe that Cornish miners made these pasties and would sell them during colder months, so the workers could stay warm while they waited for the workplace to open. Currently, it has become popular in Hidalgo, central Mexico. The pasties are stuffed with different fillings, including sweetened rice, pineapple, apples, potatoes, ground beef, and other Mexican ingredients, such as mole and tinga.
The pasties’ filling ingredients aren’t cooked before they are wrapped in the pastry crust. In addition, the pastry crust is made from multiple layers of leavened dough, which leads to a doughy texture. For the most part, the dough is thin and has a firm texture. In the majority of cases, it’s made from flaky crust. When it comes down to the filling, pasties have turnips, potatoes, beef, and onions.
The vegetables are added in more amounts. The pasties are eaten with one hand and are served with brown sauce or gravy on the top.
Empanadas
The empanadas can be defined as fried dough that’s made with a savory filling. The empanadas are incredibly convenient to prepare and can be consumed at any time you want (no, the meals don’t matter). These savory treats are made with dough that’s made with a combination of eggs, flour, salt, lard, and water. Once the dough is kneaded consistently, it’s rested for a few hours before it’s flattened in a circular shape.
The central part of the circular dough is made with veggies, meat, and cheese. In addition, many people add the egg wash to enhance the flavor – the egg wash is usually added when you have to bake the empanadas to make sure they come out golden brown. The empanadas are a fried or baked turnover that consists of pastry and filling and is popular in Spanish, Iberian, Latin American, and Southern European cultures all around the globe.
The empanadas are made with different fillings, which contain tomatoes, meat, corn, cheese, and other ingredients. The significant difference is that the filling is cooked before it’s added to the circular dough and many people use pre-made pie crust as well. The common ingredients include tomato sauce, beef, onion, and potatoes. The empanadas are known to have a higher beef content.
For the most part, these snacks are bigger, which is why people use both hands to eat them, and they are served with salt or cheese on top (some restaurants also serve them with beans or rice).
Are There Any Similarities?
The differences between pasties and empanadas are pretty evident at this point, but there are many similarities as well. For instance, both of them have dough and are filled with meat, vegetables, and cheese. The parties tend to have an exterior crust, and empanadas have a similar crust on the outside. However, it’s important to add that the empanadas’ crust is made with wheat flour, while shortening is used for pasties. Even more, the pasties are sometimes made from unleavened bread dough, and empanadas are made from yeast-raised dough.
The Bottom Line
Ranging from empanadas to pasties, both of them are delicious as they are baked and use the dough as the base. The filling is the main ingredient for these snacks, and there are significant similarities, which makes it challenging to tell them apart. However, their availability is the most common differentiating factor. For instance, pasties are popular in North America, while empanadas have gained popularity in South America.