argentinian empanadas

A few years ago, my family discovered a little argentinian pastry shop in Houston called Manena’s. We have been stopping by regularly ever since to pick up an order of their delicious empanadas.

Now that I am in Argentina, I see that Manena’s purpose in my life was to whet my appetite for the variety of flavorful empanadas to come.

Empanadas come in many different shapes and fillings, varying based on region, maker and flavor. The verb empanar means literally “to bread”, so an empanada is something breaded (or, in this case, with bread wrapped around).

Empanadas in the Americas have their origins in the Iberian Peninsula where an empanada is more of a large pie which is cut into pieces. Usually filled with tuna or cod, empanadas became “portable” smaller versions of the original pie.

Known as empanadillas (little empanadas) in Spain, and simply empanadas in the Americas, these little meat (or whatever filling you want) pockets are tasty little snack to enjoy.

In Argentina, every region has a trademark empanada, be it beef, chicken, humita (corn filling), vegetables, etc. Empanadas can be fried or baked. In Buenos Aires, the possibilities are endless, each filling differentiated by the pattern the fold is given.

Well, enough about that. I can’t stay long, I have some empanadas to enjoy...

Manena's
1018 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77042, USA

Tel. 713-278-7139

Monday-Saturday 8:30am-8pm

empanadas US$1.90 each