Cuban-Inspired Beef Empanadas
What You Should Know
You’d spot these Cuban-inspired beef empanadas in the refrigerated or frozen prepared-food aisle, grabbed for a quick lunch, snack, or party platter. They feel comforting and a bit nostalgic—homey beef and olives wrapped in a flaky crust—yet are made for convenience and indulgence. The ingredient list shows industrial aids (palm shortening, enriched flour, baking agents, citric acid and “natural flavors”) and a factory-made dough texture, which are typical clues of a highly processed ready-to-eat product.
Nutrition Facts
Ingredients
Beef, Empanada, (cooked, grass, fed, ground, beef,, tomato, sauce, [tomato, puree, (water,, tomato, paste),, less, than, 2%, of:, salt,, onion, powder,, garlic, powder,, citric, acid,, natural, flavors],, onions,, potatoes,, red, bell, peppers,, olives, [olives,, water,, red, peppers,, salt,, sunflower, oil,, citric, acid],, raisins,, extra, virgin, olive, oil,, capers, [capers,, water,, vinegar,, salt],, cumin,, garlic,, salt,, cornstarch,, black, pepper,, dough, [enriched, wheat, flour, (niacin,, reduced, iron,, thiamin, mononitrate,, riboflavin,, folic, acid,, malted, barley, flour),, organic, palm, fruit, shortening,, water,, liquid, cage, free, whole, eggs, with, citric, acid,, milk, (vitamin, d3), and/or, whole, powdered, milk,, deactivated, yeast,, aluminum, free, baking, powder, (sodium, acid, pyrophosphate,, sodium, bicarbonate,, corn, starch,, monocalcium, phosphate),, salt,, annatto, seed])..
Flagged Ingredients:
- •sunflower oil - Seed oil high in omega-6 fatty acids
Dietary Labels
Ultra-Processing Assessment
Ultra-Processed
Why this score?
Although it contains whole ingredients like beef, vegetables, and olives, the product includes industrial components (palm fruit shortening, enriched flours, baking powders with chemical leaveners, citric acid, and natural flavors) and is a ready-to-eat manufactured pastry, consistent with NOVA group 4 (ultra-processed).
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Common Questions about Cuban-Inspired Beef Empanadas
Well, 'healthy' can mean different things depending on your goals! These empanadas have a decent amount of protein and are low in sugar, which is great for a quick snack or meal. However, they do have a moderate amount of saturated fat and sodium, so if you're watching those, it's good to enjoy them in moderation.