I will never forget the first time I bit into an empanada. I must have been 11 or 12 years old and I was in Puerto Rico. I loved them so much, that when I returned home to New York I started to make them. Empanadas were the first thing I learned to make on my own.
But as much as I love eating empanadas, as a working mom I don't always have the time to make them. Empanadas are reserved for parties and special occasions or weekends when I have time to devote to a multi-step recipe (which really isn't often).
Living in The Bronx, I can also buy empanadas at a cuchifrito but they are almost always dripping with grease and skimpy on the meat.
When I recently learned that Fairway Market is now offering homestyle empanadas as well as tamales (through its new Latin Table line in all 14 stores
in the tri-state area) I jumped at the chance to try them.
The Latin Table line offers with three types of
tamales -- beef, chicken and black bean -- and three empanadas --Argentine-spiced
beef, spicy chicken and spinach-Portobello mushroom. There are four tamales and two empanadas per pack and
each comes with a chipotle dip and an avocado-tomatillo sauce. They are
available in the stores’ deli pack-out cases.
“For Fairway’s new Latin Table line
we have created very delicious tamales and empanadas - two traditional and
beloved foods- that are perfect as appetizers or for lunch and dinner,” said
Bill Sanford, Interim CEO of Fairway
Market. “Here’s another option for busy families who want to enjoy affordable, convenient
foods made with top quality ingredients.”
We loved the empanadas. They were perfect and I loved that they were baked, not fried. TIP: While it's easy to toss them in the microwave, they come out so much better when you warm them in the oven. We shared the vegetarian options with our friend (a bachelor) who said they were 'the bomb!'
The empanadas and tamales are quick and easy options for working moms who want to put something hearty on the table on nights when there isn't a lot of time. I like the Latin Table line because there are some nights when I just don't want to cook. These options are as fast as takeout but cheaper and healthier. Serve with a side of rice, salad or veggies and you have dinner for the familia!
The tamales are made with masa --a corn meal dough --then wrapped in a cornhusk and steamed. The stuffed empanadas, which are baked, have a wheat-based pastry shell. Each pack sells for $4.99. For more information go to www.fairwaymarket.com.
Disclaimer: I was provided with empanadas and tamales by Fairway Market for review purposes. No compensation was provided. All opinions are my own.
Labels: Atypical Familia, Easy Working Mom Meals, Food We Love
