Before starting, I like to prepare everything I’m going to need. I chop the onion, red pepper, green onion and beef and separate the ingredients.
In a large saucepan, heat the oil and cook the onion over high heat until it is transparent. You can season with salt and pepper right at this moment since the salt helps keep the onion from burning.
Add the beef. It’s important to stir well so that the beef mixes well with the onion and doesn’t form lumps.
Add the chopped tomato and tomato puree. This makes the beef juicier.
Take the pan away from the heat and add the green onion—season with the cumin, paprika and salt and pepper to taste.
Let the beef cool. You can leave it for an entire day in the refrigerator so that the flavors are well developed, and it is cold and easier to put into the empanada shells.
Fill the empanada shells by putting beef in the middle then using water on the edges so that they seal well. From here, you can form the decorative edge.
You can spread some whisked eggs on them to give them more color and make them shiny.
Put the empanadas on a greased baking sheet and put them in the oven at 400ºF until your empanadas are crispy and golden.