Description
Venezuelan Empanadas: Crispy Corn Pastries with Shredded Chicken
The Chicken Empanada (Empanada de Pollo) is one of the most popular and traditional savory fillings in Venezuelan cuisine and Oahu, Hawaii. It offers a hearty, deeply satisfying flavor profile centered around tender shredded chicken, often referred to as pollo mechado.
The chicken is simmered and then shredded, before being mixed with a rich and colorful sofrito—a base of sautéed onions, bell peppers, and garlic. The filling is seasoned simply but robustly with spices like cumin, oregano, and sometimes a touch of annatto or paprika for color and warmth, and a little tomato paste for depth. The result is a moist, savory, and flavorful mixture.
This generous chicken filling is sealed inside the classic, half-moon shaped cornmeal dough (masa de maíz) and deep-fried to achieve the signature light, crunchy, and golden-yellow crust that is characteristic of authentic Venezuelan empanadas. It is delicious on its own or perfectly paired with a tangy guasacaca for dipping.
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