Empanadas de Frijoles Refritos y Queso (Refried Bean Empanadas)
Crisp baked half moons stuffed with creamy refried beans and melting cheese, topped with sharp pickled red onions.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Refried beans (frijoles refritos) and Shortcrust pastry. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time1 hr
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.79 a head
- Oven200°C (180°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Warm your ready made refried beans (see the base recipe) in a pan with the jalapeno for 3 minutes until just loosened. Tip into a bowl and cool completely, then stir in 80 g of the cheese and the coriander.
- 2
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Roll out your ready made shortcrust pastry (see the base recipe) and cut 8 circles about 12 cm across.
- 3
Spoon the bean mixture onto each circle, brush the edges with egg, fold over and crimp with a fork.
- 4
Brush with egg, sprinkle with the remaining cheese and cut a small slit in each.
- 5
Bake on a lined tray for 22 to 25 minutes until golden.
23 min 20 s - 6
Serve hot, topped with your ready made pickled red onions (see the base recipe) and lime wedges.
Tips
- Thick refried beans are best here. If yours are loose, cook them for a few minutes until a spoon leaves a trail.
- Cool the filling before filling the pastry, or it softens and tears.
- Add a spoonful of chopped chipotle for smoky heat.
Storing and freezing
Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat at 180C (fan 160C) for 12 minutes until hot through. Unbaked sealed empanadas freeze for 1 month.
Questions
Are they vegan?
Not as written, as the pastry contains butter and the filling has cheese. Use dairy free baking block in the pastry, a dairy free cheese and plant milk glaze.
Can I use tinned refried beans?
Yes. Use a 400 g tin in place of the homemade base. Choose a vegetarian tin, as some contain lard.
What goes well with them?
Salsa roja, guacamole, or a crisp salad all go well.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Ensalada de Col y Jícama con Aderezo Cremoso de Jalapeño (Crunchy Cabbage and Jicama Slaw)
GFEFNFCostillas de Res al Guajillo con Frijoles Refritos (Guajillo Braised Beef Short Ribs)
DFEFNFTacos Dorados de Papa y Res Ahogados (Crispy Beef and Potato Tacos)
EFNFJerk Prawn and Mango Lettuce Wraps
DFEFNFSee every dish made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.