In South Carolina, foods with ham and cheese are usually not served in restaurants. They are typically eaten by adults as hors d'oeuvres (French for appetizer) at small get togethers or by children for school lunches. But here in Argentina, foods with ham and cheese are common for full meals and as toppings for a variety of foods, like chicken sandwiches or pizza!
I tried Empanada de carne (Beef empanada) at Blas Pascal University's welcome luncheon.
I felt amazing! It was a little spicy from the red and green bell peppers and so flavorful with the onions, garlic, paprika, and cumin. The beef broth made them juicy as well.
First you prepare the filling by cooking ground beef, peppers, and onions in a pan and adding desired seasonings. Then you place the filling in pastry bread and fold the bread so that the ingredients are sealed within it. Finally, bake or fry and enjoy!
Beef empanadas are extremely popular here because Argentina has a lot of cattle farms that raise quality beef. Argentina has one of the highest rates of beef consumption in the WORLD, with the average Argentine consuming 162 POUNDS of beef in a year!
