🇨🇷 Costa Rican Cuisine

Empanadas Ticas

Costa Rican Corn Empanadas

Prep Time 25 min
Servings 8
Difficulty Medium
Calories 242 kcal

Crispy corn dough empanadas filled with seasoned beans, cheese, or chicken, deep-fried to golden perfection — a beloved Tico street snack.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1 Mix masarepa with warm water and salt to form a smooth, pliable dough. Rest 10 min.
  2. 2 Divide dough into 8 balls. Flatten each between plastic wrap into a thin circle.
  3. 3 Place 2 tbsp beans and a sprinkle of cheese on one half of each circle.
  4. 4 Fold dough over filling, pressing edges firmly to seal. Crimp with a fork.
  5. 5 Heat oil to 180C. Fry empanadas 3-4 min per side until deep golden and crispy.
  6. 6 Drain on paper towels. Serve hot with Lizano sauce.

Did You Know?

At Costa Rican fairs and fiestas patronales, empanada vendors compete fiercely for the crispiest, most generously stuffed empanada.