Pumpkin Empanada Filling Recipes

PUMPKIN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Cut the pumpkin into 1 inch slices.
• Place the chunks of panela or piloncillo, the water and the spices in large pot. Cook until the panela chunks have dissolved.
• Bring the panela or piloncillo syrup to a boil over medium heat, add the pumpkin slices and boil for about 30 minutes. Try to avoid stirring while the pumpkin is cooking.
• Reduce the heat and simmer for about 1 hour or until the syrup thickens.
• Let the candied pumpkin slices cool down until safe to handle.
• Remove the skins from the pumpkins and reserve the candied pumpkin pulp for the empanadas.
• Place a spoonful of the candied pumpkin mix on the center of each empanada disc.
• Fold the empanada discs and press the edges together using your fingers. You can either use a fork to press down on the edges and seal the empanadas; or you can use your finger to twist the edges and form a curl like seal.
• Refrigerate the empanadas until ready to bake.
• Pre-heat the oven to 375F.
• Lightly brush the top of the empanadas with the egg wash.
• Sprinkle the sugar on the top of the empanadas.
• Bake the empanadas in a pre-heated oven at 375 F for approximately 20 minutes or until golden on top.
• Serve either warm or cold with ice cream or honey crème fraiche. You can also use any of the leftover panela syrup to drizzle on top.

MEXICAN PUMPKIN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk the flour, 1/3 cup of sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and baking powder together. Cut the shortening into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs; stir the water in, about 2 tablespoons at a time, just until you can gather the dough together. Knead the dough a few times in the bowl, then scrape it out onto a floured surface. Cut the dough in quarters, and cut each quarter into thirds to make 12 equal portions. Roll the portions into balls. Cover the dough balls with a cloth, and allow to rest while you make the filling.
• Mix the pumpkin, 2 eggs, 1 cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves together until smooth. On a floured surface, roll each dough ball out into a thin circle about 6 inches across; spoon about 1/3 cup of filling into the center of the dough circle. Fold the dough over the filling to make a half-moon shaped pie, and crimp the edges of the crust together with a fork, leaving little fork lines in the dough. Gently lay the empanadas onto the prepared baking sheets. Brush the top of each pie with beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the filling is hot and the crusts are shiny and browned, about 20 minutes.

VEGAN PUMPKIN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• Dough:
• Stir in Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder and Salt. Cut in Shortening with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Sprinkle in the milk evenly over the surface and stir until it form a dough and it is all evenly moistened. Shape into a ball. Chill the dough in the refrigerator or freezer until cold but not frozen.
• Filling:
• Combine Pumpkin, Sugar and Allspice in a food processor and mix all. You may choose the consistency according to taste some people like the filling very creamy, I prefer it a little more chunky with pumpkin bits. Set mixture aside.
• Finishing Touches:
• Roll out cold dough to 1/8-inch thickness, cut into 4-inch circles. They should resemble little tortillas. Place 1 tbsp of the filling mixture in the center of each circle. Moisten edges with a little milk; fold in half, and press edges together with fork. Place them on a ungreased baking sheet.
• Mix the sugar with the cinnamon. Brush empanadas with melted Earth Balance and sprinkle the sugar cinnamon mixture over them.
• Bake at 450 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until they get golden. I usually bake a batch of 10 empanadas at a time.
• Let it cool and enjoy!

MEXICAN PUMPKIN EMPANADAS, EMPANADAS DE CALABAZA

Steps:

• 1. Empanada Pastry: In a medium bowl mix together the sugar, warm water, yeast, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon. Stir real well to dissolve real good. In another bowl put 1 cup of the flour and pour your wet ingredients over the flour. With your mixer mix everything real real good. Now add the vegetable shortening and continue to use mixer and incorporate everything real good. Now take the remaing 2 cups flour and little by little in small increments continue to mix into your mixture of shortening and wet ingredients. Mix everything until you have a nice dough. You may have to add a little more warm water but in very small increments and continue to knead until you have a nice dough not real sticky just moist enough to hold together. Shape into a large ball and then cut into four equal pieces. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes have passed take each piece and make little balls the size of ping pong balls. Do all of your dough this way and cover with plastic wrap so the dough does not dry out. Let rest while you mix the filling.
• 2. Filling: Take your pumpkin and place into a large bowl, add the sugar, salt, ground ginger, ground cloves, and the ground cinnamon. With a wisk or large spoon mix everything real good. Taste to see if the mixture has the right spice. You may want to add a little more cinnamon, ginger, and cloves in your pumpkin. Now add the two scant tablespoons of heavy cream and continue to mix very well incorporating everyhting real good.
• 3. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees, Line two cookie sheet pans with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with a little Bakers Helper or Pam Spray; Or lubricate the parchment paper with a scant bit of oil. Now take one of the little dough balls dust your surface with a bit of flour and roll out to about six or seven inch round circle; take a tablespoon and a half; of the pumpkin mixture and put in the middle of the pastry circle; fold over the pastry; with the tines of the fork press all around the edges of the empanada. With the fork poke twice the top of the pastry so the steam will escape. Sprinkle the top with some sugar and bake 18 to 20 minutes in the oven. After 15 minutes watch them they can burn fast. Do all of your little dough balls like this. Yields about 18/20 empanadas. They are delicious for breakfast, dessert or as a snack. Enjoy.
• 4. Note: I did not use all of my cooked pumpkin on empanadas only. I also made 2 two large pumpkin flans; am posting the recipe and picture next. LOL

PUMPKIN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• PASTRY: Mix together flour and salt. Cut in shortening until particles are the size of small peas.
• Sprinkle water, 1 tbsp at a time, tossing with fork to moistened. (pastry should clean the side of bowl).
• Gather into a ball, divide into halves. Divide each half into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece between plastic wrap into 3 1/2" circle. (keep pastry covered).
• FILLING: Combine pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon and ground ginger in a saucepan. Heat to boiling, stitring constantly. Reduce heat, simmer until brown sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes.
• Heat oven to 400°.
• Spoon 2 tsp pumpkin mix onto center of circle. Brush edges with water.
• Fold over and press edges with fork to seal.
• Place on ungreased cookie sheet or stone.
• Sprinkle with sugar and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

TACO TIME COPYCAT PUMPKIN EMPANADA RECIPE

Steps:

• Cream together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
• Add in pumpkin, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice.
• Place 1/3 of mixture into the center of each tortilla. Spread around the whole tortilla getting 1/2 inch from the edge of the tortilla.
• Place 1/3 of mixture into the center of each tortilla. Spread around the whole tortilla getting 1/2 inch from the edge of the tortilla.
• Roll up carefully and secure with a toothpick.
• Place each empanada into a pan full of vegetable or canola oil that is heated to 325 -350 degrees.
• Fry until golden brown, turning so both sides cook.
• Place on a paper towel to drain grease.
• Remove toothpick after frying.
• Combine the sugar and cinnamon on a plate with sides.
• Roll the hot empanada in the cinnamon sugar mixture until coated on all sides.
• Top the empanada with whipped cream, or you can dip it in the whipped cream.

MEXICAN PUMPKIN EMPANADAS (EMPANADAS DE CALABAZA)

Steps:

• Place pumpkin in a medium pan and add, piloncillo, cinnamon, and anise star (read note 1).
• Pour in water, cover the pan, and let gently simmer for 20 minutes while mixing one or two times.
• Remove the cinnamon stick and anise star. Add nutmeg and cinnamon powder.
• Using a potato masher, mash roughly the pumpkin.
• Keep cooking uncovered while stirring from time to time until you'll have a thick and dense mixture.
• Set aside and allow to mixture to reach room temperature.
• In a food processor place flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Pulse two times to combine.
• Add butter and pulse a few times to form a crumbly mixture.
• Add egg yolk and cream, and pulse again until a clumpy dough forms (read note 2).
• Transfer the dough onto a floured and smooth surface and quickly knead it into a ball.
• Wrap the dough with cling film and place it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• Prepare two cookie sheets with parchment paper or a baking mat.
• Cut two squares about 6×6-inch (15x15cm) from a plastic bag.
• Mix about ½ cup of sugar and 1 ½ tablespoon of ground cinnamon on a deep plate.
• Make an egg wash whisking together the milk and egg in a small bowl.
• Last, preheat the oven to 360°F (180°C).
• Remove the dough from the fridge, divide it into 14 pieces and then flour your hands and roll each piece into a ball.
• Place a dough ball on one of the plastic squares, cover with the other and slightly press with your hand to make a small patty.
• Using a heavy dish, press the dough to form a flat disc (read note 3).
• Peel the top square gently, then add some pumpkin filling in the middle of the disc.
• Fold over to make a half-moon and press the borders to seal well the empanada.
• Gently place the empanada on one hand and peel the last plastic.
• Take the edge and carefully twist it to make the braided edge (read note 4).
• Place the empanada on a baking sheet and repeat the steps with all dough and filling.
• Brush all empanadas de calabaza with the egg wash and make some small holes on the top with a toothpick.
• Bake between 20 and 25 minutes or until the pastries are slightly browned on all sides.
• As soon as empanadas are out of the oven, coat them in the sugar and cinnamon mixture carefully.
• You can now eat them while they're still warm or place them in a cooling rack and store them for later.