These spicy Air Fryer Lobster Jalapeño Empanadas are crunchy and golden excellence without all the oil used in deep-frying.
Empanadas bring me back to my summers as a kid spent in Puerto Rico. I ate empanadas (also known as pastelillos) every chance I could from street vendors. My preferences were the ones filled with lobster, shrimp, or pizza.
You can fill empanadas with just about anything you can dream up, from leftover taco meat and pizza to buffalo chicken and pie filling – you name it. These Lobster Jalapeño Empanadas couldn’t be easier. Make sure to try some of my other empanada recipes like these Air Fryer Beef Empanadas, Chilean Caramelized Onion Empanadas, and my Taco Empanadas.
Table of Contents
Air Fryer Lobster Jalapeño Empanadas
INGREDIENTS
- 8 frozen empanada discs, thawed
- 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons diced onion
- 1 jalapeño, minced
- 8 ounces roughly chopped raw lobster meat, I buy frozen claws from Crowd Cow
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
- 1 large egg white, beaten
1 lime cut unto wedges, for serving
INSTRUCTIONS
To make the filling
First, melt the butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat.
Then add the onions and jalapeño and sauté until soft, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the lobster and cook 1 to two -2- minutes until just opaque.
Remove from the heat and add the chives.
Rapidly drain in a mesh sieve and set aside to cool.
To make the empanadas
Put the dough circles on a work surface.
Put about two -2- tablespoons of lobster stuffing in the middle of a circle; brush the edges of the dough with the water or egg wash.
After Fold the circle over itself, press the edges with your fingers or a fork to seal, and place on a work surface.
Repeat until all the empanadas are filled. Brush tops with egg wash.
Spray the basket with oil to prevent sticking, transfer to the basket, in batches cook at 325F° for 8 minutes, turning halfway.
Serve hot with lime wedges.
NUTRITION INFORMATION
Serving: 1empanada, Calories: 165kcal, Carbohydrates: 21.5g, Protein: 9.5g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 56mg, Sodium: 252mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g Blue Smart Points:5 Green Smart Points:5 Purple Smart Points:5