Hispanic food has quickly become one of the most popular cuisines in the United States. Restaurants selling Mexican food, for example, earn $31 billion in annual revenues. As the population of Hispanics has risen in the United States, traditional foods from Mexico, Peru, Cuba, and other Hispanic nations have intermingled with American classics to create something new and wonderful.
Take empanadas: Named for the Spanish verb “emapanar,” meaning “to coat with bread,” empanadas originated in Spain with the Galician culture. As Spanish forces took over parts of the New World, they brought along this dish. As during those times, the empanadas made in the States have fused with local classics. Anyone who’s ever spent a summer in the U.S. knows that there are few foods more emblematic of the American summer than the s’more. What happens when you put this campfire favorite together with empanadas? Let’s make banana s’more empanadas and find out.
How to Make Banana S’more Empanadas
Ingredients:
- 3 cups hot cocoa marshmallows
- 3 cups dark chocolate chips
- 3 cups banana, cubed
- 1 egg, beaten
- Bowl of tap water
- 20 empanada shells, available from most Hispanic markets
- 1/2 cup confectioners sugar
Let’s Put It Together
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the marshmallows, chocolate, and bananas. Just toss the ingredients well enough to evenly distribute everything. You don’t want to mash the bananas, after all.
- Add an even amount of the mixture to each empanada shell.
- Using your finger, wet the edges of each empanada, and fold the shells closed, making sure the edges are sealed.
- Using a pastry brush, paint each shell with some of the beaten egg. This will give the empanadas a beautiful golden color when they bake.
- Bake the empanadas for 15 to 20 minutes, until the shells have turned golden.
- Remove from the oven, allowing the empanadas to cool for five minutes before serving.
- Shake a small amount of confectioners sugar over the empanadas, and serve warm.
When most people think of these little pockets, they think of a savory receta de cocina. However, as you can see, this wonderful food translates easily into a dessert that deserves a place alongside tres leches, flan, and other favorite postres. Read more articles like this.