It is 7pm on a wet Wednesday in Bondi and neither of you wants to cook. The oven is the shortest path back to a proper dinner. Argentum's empanadas bake from frozen at 190C in 18 to 22 minutes. This is a short, opinionated guide to the 5 active flavours, the chimichurri jar, and what to open with each, for a Sydney winter night in. Order the boxes, stack the freezer, and you have four to six proper dinners without a supermarket run.
The quick answer
For a Sydney winter night in, the standard Argentum order is a Chef's Box (20 empanadas, $85) with a mix of Carnivore, Classic, and Patagonia, plus a jar of chimichurri ($12, 200ml). That covers two dinners for a couple with a Malbec, or one dinner and a mid-week lunch. Delivered frozen across Sydney, bakes at 190C in 20 minutes.
1. Carnivore, with a Malbec
Argentum's Carnivore empanada contains slow-cooked grass-fed beef brisket, red capsicum, onion, and garlic. No olives. It is the most-ordered flavour in the range and the winter default. The brisket is slow-cooked long enough that it pulls apart with a fork, sealed in a half-moon pastry with a traditional repulgue crimp, and baked until the pastry is golden.
Pair with: a Mendoza Malbec. Look for a bottle around $22 to $30. If you want to go local, a Barossa Shiraz works.
Order: Carnivore pack of 4 ($20) or pack of 12 ($56).
2. The Athlete, with a Riesling
Free-range chicken, lemon, onion, capsicum, garlic, green olives, curry, and mozzarella. Lowest sodium in the range. The curry is warm rather than hot, the mozzarella pulls when you bite, and the lemon lifts everything. It is the empanada for the night you want warmth without heaviness.
Pair with: a dry Clare Valley Riesling or a Vermentino. Both cut the mozzarella cleanly.
Order: Athlete pack of 4 ($18) or pack of 12 ($52).
3. The Classic, with an old-vine Grenache
Three cheeses (provolone, parmesan, mozzarella) and caramelised onion. Vegetarian. Highest protein in the range at 15.6 grams. The cheese pull on a Classic straight from the oven is the reason it exists. Serve at the front of the meal while the others cook, or as the whole meal with a rocket and pear salad.
Pair with: a McLaren Vale old-vine Grenache. Enough weight for the cheese, not so heavy it overwhelms the onion.
Order: Classic pack of 4 ($18) or pack of 12 ($50).
4. Patagonia, with a Pinot Noir
The Patagonia empanada is vegan: grilled mushroom, spinach, kale, carrot, and potato cheese in a green dough. The green dough is the signature. Lowest saturated fat in the range. Named for the cold southern region of Argentina, which is not accidental for a winter menu.
Pair with: a Yarra Valley Pinot Noir or a Beaujolais Villages. Both are light enough to sit alongside grilled vegetables without steamrolling them.
Order: Patagonia pack of 4 ($18) or pack of 12 ($52).
5. Habibi Yalla, with a Lebanese red or a Tempranillo
Open-top beef, tomato, lemon, and parsley. Middle Eastern influenced, hence the open pastry. Habibi Yalla is the flavour that lifts a table when everyone else is going for beef and cheese. The visible filling and the parsley bring freshness to a winter menu that would otherwise skew heavy.
Pair with: a Lebanese red (Chateau Musar Jeune or Ksara are widely available in Sydney) or a Rioja Crianza Tempranillo.
Order: Habibi Yalla pack of 4 ($18) or pack of 12 ($52).
6. The Chef's Box, for indecision
20 empanadas, $85, mixed. The Chef's Box is the answer when you cannot decide, or when there are two of you and one of you wants beef and the other wants cheese. Order from Sunday for delivery Wednesday, and the week is sorted.
Pair with: a Malbec and a Sauvignon Blanc. Cover both sides of the table.
Order: Chef's Box ($85).
The seventh: chimichurri jar
Argentum's chimichurri is $12 for a 200ml jar. Parsley, garlic, red wine vinegar, oregano, chilli, olive oil. It is the sauce for the beef empanadas, but it also works on eggs the next morning, on steak, on grilled halloumi, on roast potatoes. One jar covers about 15 to 20 empanadas comfortably, and lasts about six weeks in the fridge once opened.
Pair with: everything.
How to bake for a winter night in
- Preheat oven to 190C.
- Pull straight from the freezer. Do not thaw.
- Line a tray with baking paper. Space the empanadas 2cm apart.
- Bake for 18 to 22 minutes. Rotate the tray at 10 minutes if your oven runs uneven.
- Rest for 2 minutes on the tray. The filling is hot.
- Serve with chimichurri, a green salad, and whatever is open.
Air fryer: 180C for 12 to 15 minutes. Pan: 4 to 6 minutes per side.
What one box covers
- Chef's Box (20): two dinners for two, or one dinner for four.
- Family Box (30): a full week of weeknight dinners for two.
- Party Box (60 baked, $319 / 60 frozen, $279): Friday dinner for 15 to 20, or three weeks of two-person weeknights from the freezer.
Frozen shelf life is up to 6 months at -18C, so a mid-July delivery lasts to January.
Frequently asked questions
How long do Argentum empanadas take to cook from frozen?
Argentum empanadas bake from frozen at 190C for 18 to 22 minutes. Air fryer at 180C for 12 to 15 minutes. Pan at 4 to 6 minutes per side. No thawing needed.
Which Argentum empanada is best for a winter dinner?
Carnivore (slow-cooked grass-fed beef brisket, red capsicum, onion, garlic) is the winter default. The Classic (three cheeses and caramelised onion) is the highest-protein vegetarian option. Patagonia (grilled vegetables in green dough) is the vegan pick.
What wine goes with empanadas?
Malbec for the Carnivore. Riesling or Vermentino for the Athlete. Grenache for the Classic. Pinot Noir for Patagonia. Lebanese red or Tempranillo for Habibi Yalla.
How long does the chimichurri jar last?
Argentum's chimichurri jar (200ml, $12) lasts about 6 weeks in the fridge once opened. One jar covers around 15 to 20 empanadas.
What is the minimum order at Argentum?
Minimum order is $48. First order gets $5 off with code FIRST5.
How long can I keep frozen empanadas in the freezer?
Frozen empanadas from Argentum last up to 6 months in the freezer at -18C. A July delivery keeps well into January.
Order for the weekend. The Chef's Box ($85) is the winter starter kit. Add a chimichurri jar ($12). Frozen shelf life is 6 months, so the freezer will keep well past winter.
0 comments