EMPANADAS: BY GABY BONINA PHOTOS BY SHIRLEY YANG
I love empanadas — the meditative process of making them by hand, the feeling of nearly burning the roof of my mouth, steam billowing out of the pocket while my overeager self munches. Empanadas tie me not only to my own culture but to so many others as well. There are countless different varieties that it’s hard to keep track of, and with many of us learning to make new foods during quarantine, they are a great way to learn about another country while enjoying a scrumptious, bite-sized snack.
For me, empanadas are a symbol of home and heritage. Growing up with a mom from Ecuador, empanadas were a part of my life from a very young age. Summers in Ecuador called for making empanadas with my Abuelita in the kitchen, learning the intricate folds that encompassed the broad range of empanada flavors and fillings. As my cultural appreciation grew each summer, so did my love of the delicious, bite-sized snack. An integral part of my upbringing and so many others around the world, the history and cultural relativity of the empanada is a rich narrative. The word for “empanada” comes from the Spanish word, empanar, which means to be embreaded/put inside bread. Empanadas trace their origins back to Galicia, Spain around the medieval Iberian time period of Moorish invasions. It is said that the Moors brought their meat-filled samosas to the Catalan region, which spurred the creation of the empanada. Eventually, empanadas were brought to Central and South America by Spanish colonizers, and to this day remain a central part of the cuisine in these countries. The best thing about empanadas? It seems that just about every culture, and related regions, have their own traditional pocket or meat pie. Here are a few:
