Enchilada vs Empanada: Difference and Comparison

Cuisines all over the world have a few delicious food items. Palm stuffed sandwiches to casserole-fried burritos, and the varieties make a man dazzle to taste. The healthy food items with delectable taste make a good combination as well.

Many dishes traversed times on this earth. Though the procedure to make and the equipment used to make it would have changed, the dishes stand by the traditional taste. 

Two of the prime food items from different parts of the world have gained prominence solely because of their taste; Enchilada and Empanada. There are a few differences between them apart from the place of origin.

Key Takeaways

1. Enchiladas are a Mexican dish made of rolled tortillas filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables and covered in sauce, while empanadas are a pastry filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables and baked or fried.
2. Enchiladas are served as a main dish, while empanadas are served as a snack or appetizer.
3. Enchiladas are made with tortillas, while empanadas are made with pastry dough.

Enchilada vs Empanada

The difference between Enchilada and Empanada lies in the way the dish is made. Enchilada is like a roll, where a corn tortilla is used to wrap on a variety of fillings. However, Empanada is made by baking or frying the dough that is stuffed with vegetables, fruits, or meat. Ideally, Enchilada is easy to make, while empanada requires professional help.

Enchilada is a traditional Mexican food item made by filling a corn tortilla with vegetables, meat, and combinations of the same. It is savoury and served with sauce. It is a dish that is considered a part of the main course. In the past, the dish was just an empty corn tortilla dipped in chilly sauce.

Empanada is a European Dish made by frying or baking the dough, which is stuffed with ingredients depending on the taste. It is served as sweet and savoury. You can add vegetables or even meat to make it delicious. At the same time, it is made as a pie while you use the fruits.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Enchilada	Empanada
Place of Origin	Mexico	Spain and Portugal
Preparation time	It is relatively quick to make Enchiladas.	It takes time as one might have to Knead, bake or fry the dough.
Meal Course	Essentially a Main Course	It is served as an appetizer and also during breakfast in a few countries.
Type	Savoury	Sweet and Savory
Health factor	Corn is the best fibrous food item. It aids in weight loss yet a filling dish.	The baking dish is healthy, but the fried one is not.

What is Enchilada?

Enchilada is a Mexican dish that is made by filling the corn tortilla with fillings and wrapping it. It is served with Enchilada sauce and tastes excellent as a quick snack. The filling can range from vegetables to meat as well. The combinations of beans, cheese, and potatoes make a good filling for Enchilada.

Enchilada is a traditional dish from Mexico and has a very long history. Some documents proclaim that the Enchiladas have been in existence since 1300AD. People used to eat corn tortilla-wrapped food as a one-time meal.

Though it has an ancient presence, the modern Enchiladas still retain the same nutritious aspect. You can customize the dish to your preference. The changes can be made to the filling and can be had hot to get the best taste.

The filling can be multiple ingredients, but the ones with rice and beans are considered satisfying. A few people eat Enchiladas for the add-ons that come along with that. The toppings, such as

1. Sour Cream
2. Cilantro
3. Green Onions and Chillies
4. Sauce and much more

Are added to the dish. It is ideally very easy to cook the dish and consumes very little time. These days there are varieties of Enchilada and that differs from nation to nation.

What is Empanada?

Empanada is a baked or fried bread that is stuffed with vegetables or meat. Empanada falls under the category of pastries, and it comes in both sweet as well as savoury. It originated in Spain and Portugal, and its history dates back to the 1500s.

Generally, the dish is made by wrapping the dough over a combination of vegetables, fruits, or even meat. The wrapped dough is not baked or fried. In the past, empanadas were made in huge sizes and then served a portion of it.

It is considered an appetizer during a meal, while it is also treated as the main course in certain countries. Back then, seafood was stuffed in the bread, and nowadays, it contains a variety of ingredients. The cooking time is more and needs professional help in making Empanadas.

Though a few countries treat this food as an add-on, it was initially used as a main course dish. It was indeed filling as it contained a lot of stuffed items in it. Moreover, it was considered a working man’s lunch, and it was easy to carry as well.

Colombia and Argentina are the best makers of Empanada even now. Baked empanadas are easy to make as you can bake the entire dough at once. At the same time, fried empanadas do not taste as good as baked ones.

Main Differences Between Enchilada and Empanada

1. The main difference between Enchilada and Empanada is the method of preparation. The former is made by gently wrapping corn tortilla over the desired ingredients, while Empanada is made by baking or frying the dough.
2. Enchilada is a Mexican dish, while Empanada hails from Spain.
3. Enchilada is very easy to make as it just requires you to wrap the ingredients and serve, while Empanada takes a longer time as you have to either fry or cook.
4. Enchilada is always made as a single piece, and that depends on the size of the tortilla. But, Empanadas are made in big sizes and then cut into pieces while serving.
5. Enchilada is not only filling when it is wrapped with rice. At the same time, it is a healthy dish, while Empanadas are a party dish and not as healthy as the Mexican dish.

References

1. https://books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=tH-4CgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR15&dq=Enchilada+vs+Empanada&ots=zglSx39iSE&sig=t2RVDIxkHsgAUPfQILyV4h5K4dI&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Enchilada%20vs%20Empanada&f=false
2. https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/82290