Ken Cooke - 12-28-2012 at 02:09 PM
link: https://www.facebook.com/olivareselsa
Those have the sweet calabaza jam like filling
durrelllrobert - 12-28-2012 at 09:00 PM
Ingredients for 12 Empanadas
For the pumpkin filling that renders about 3 cups of filling.
If using canned pumpkin just make sure buy 2 cans since 1 can equals 1 1/2 cup. It may reduce a little but that will be enough for this recipe.
2 1/2 pound pumpkin seeded without skin and cut in large cubes
6 oz. Piloncillo or brown sugar
1/4 cup water
1 cinnamon stick of about one inch ( This will be removed after the pumpkin cooks)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground anis
1/4 tsp. ground clove
For the dough:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 eggs lightly beaten
1/3 cup warm milk
1 tsp dry yeast
1/4 cup sugar
½ stick of melted butter
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg lightly beaten to brush the empanadas
Place the pumpkin in saucepan with the piloncillo, 1/4 cup of water and the cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil and cook for about 15-20 minutes until the
pumpkin is tender. Remove the cinnamon stick.
At this time the piloncillo should had been dissolved, add the ground cinnamon, ground anis and clove. Keep cooking uncovered for about 20 or more
minutes, stirring frequently until the mixture takes the texture of a jam. This can be done ahead of time and has to be a room temperature before
forming the empanadas.
Note: In case the pumpkin shell is to hard to remove since the ones sold in Mexico are really hard to remove. Cook the pumpkin first with a 1/4 cup of
water until it is tender enough to scrape from the shell. Then cook the pulp with the rest of the ingredients for the filling without the water.
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To form the dough; Place the yeast in a small bowl add the warm milk and let it proof for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile in a large bowl place the Flour,
eggs, melted and cool butter, sugar and salt. Add the yeast mixture and mix to form a soft a dough. Knead in a floured surface for about 5 minutes
adding more flour if needed. Place the dough in an oiled bowl turning to coat with the oil. Cover with plastic and let it rest for about 1 1/2 hour in
a warm place. After that period of time knead the dough again for 2-3 minutes and divide in 12 small soft balls to start forming the empanadas. Cover
with plastic.
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Now to form the empanadas: With the help of your rolling pin roll out each of the dough balls in a slightly floured surface into circles of about 7
inches diameter stretching it if necessary. Place about 1/4 cup of filling in center of each; fold dough to enclose filling and form a half moon. Seal
edges by crimping with fork.
If you want your empanadas to look symmetric once you fold the circle place a cereal bowl upside down and press to cut any excess of dough.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Arrange empanadas on 2 greased baking sheets; brush with egg wash and dust with some sugar if you desire to do so. Let
them rest for about 30-35 minutes until dough raise. Bake until light brown, 15 to 18 minutes; rotate pans between racks halfway through. Baking time
will vary depending of your oven.
If you want to obtain a dark golden color in your empanadas do not add sugar to the topping and place them for 2-3 minutes under the broiler of your
stove after baking them, watching carefully to avoid burning them.
Buen Provecho!