Overview
An empanada is a type of baked or fried turnover consisting of pastry and filling, common in Spain, Portugal, other Southern Europe countries, North Africa countries, West African countries, South Asian countries, Latin America countries, and the Philippines. The name comes from the Spanish empanar, and translates as 'breaded', that is, wrapped or coated in bread. They are made by folding dough over a filling, which may consist of meat, cheese, tomato, corn, or other ingredients, and then cooking the resulting turnover, either by baking or frying.