At first glance, an empanada looks very much like a curry puff. Curry puffs are an all-time-favourite in Singapore – with potato curry, chicken curry or tuna curry filling. There is puff-pastry curry puff which is baked, and there is dough-pastry curry puff which is deep fried. There is also a flaky dough-pastry curry puff which is also fried.
Many years ago in my previous job, there was a company bowling competition. It was during the time when the PowerPuff Girls were popular, so one of the teams decided to call themselves CurrryPuff Girls. I don’t remember if they won, but if my memory doesn’t fail me, there were curry puffs for tea that day.
Empanadas are also baked or fried, but they don’t have curry fillings. They are common in the Philippines, Spain and Latin America, and usually have meat or cheese fillings.
The empanada above has cheese filling and is served as an appetizer with guacamole, frijoles, salsa and sour cream. It’s empanada Mexican-style, compliments of Elena.
The empanada below is with minced beef filling and served with tapas. It’s the Spanish- style. Lea came up with a Spanish bento with empanadas, figs, cheese, salad, bread and chorizo.
A light meal leaves room for a heavy dessert. However, if you are tempted to try a Latin American dessert like a chocolate cake with dulce de leche, nuts and desiccated coconut, think of a plan to use up all the calories beforehand. It’s sugar-loaded! Yummy – if you have a sweet tooth. Dulce de leche is made by simmering milk and sugar. It can also be made by boiling an unopened can of sweetened condensed milk for two to three hours. Anastasia and Esther, two students on holiday, tried their hand at baking this cake with Ayelene’s authentic Latin American recipe and under her expert guidance.
Anastasia and Esther will certainly have sweet memories of their June 2021 holidays.
By Chayo, HomSkil Editor 1, 27 June 2021
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