17 Recipe For Mexican Empanadas De Calabaza They're Simply Irresistible!
Published on: Mar 26, 2024
Empanadas de calabaza, or pumpkin empanadas, are a traditional Mexican dessert that is enjoyed during the fall season. These sweet and savory pastries are filled with a delicious pumpkin filling and are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth. While there are many variations of this recipe, we have put together a foolproof guide for making the perfect empanadas de calabaza. So grab your apron and let's get cooking!
Main Ingredients: Olive Oil, Onion, Green Bell Pepper, Water, Small White
Looking for a delicious and flavorful side dish to go with your beer can chicken? Look no further than this Caribbean White Beans recipe! These beans are cooked in a savory broth with spices like cumin, oregano, and paprika, and then topped with fresh cilantro for a burst of freshness. Serve it alongside your beer can chicken for a perfect pairing of flavors.
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Guiso de Maíz -- Cuban Corn Stew
Main Ingredients: Tasajo, Salt Pork, Sweet Corn, Sweet Corn Kernels
This hearty and comforting stew is a staple in Cuban cuisine. It's packed with tender corn, potatoes, and a variety of flavorful herbs and spices. The secret ingredient? A touch of adobo seasoning for a burst of tanginess. This stew is the perfect accompaniment to your beer can chicken, providing a balance of textures and flavors that will leave your taste buds satisfied.
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Aguadito de Verduras - Green Vegetable Soup
Main Ingredients: Vegetable Broth, Yellow Potatoes, Corn Kernels, Large
If you're looking for a lighter side dish to go with your beer can chicken, try this refreshing Green Vegetable Soup. Packed with nutritious veggies like spinach, peas, and green beans, this soup is both healthy and flavorful. The addition of ají amarillo paste gives it a subtle kick of heat, making it a great complement to your savory chicken.
Main Ingredients: Calabaza, Fresh Lime Juice, Rice Vinegar, Honey
This simple and refreshing side dish is the perfect way to use up any leftover calabaza squash from your beer can chicken recipe. The squash is roasted to perfection and then tossed in a zesty dressing made with lime juice, garlic, and fresh cilantro. The combination of flavors is a match made in heaven and will make your taste buds sing.
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Puerto Rican Sancocho (autoimmune paleo version;...
Main Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Onion, Leaves, Garlic, Celery, Meat, Beef
Sancocho is a hearty stew that is popular in Puerto Rican cuisine. This version is made with a variety of root vegetables, such as yautía, malanga, and yucca, and is flavored with a variety of herbs and spices. This autoimmune paleo version is perfect for those with dietary restrictions, and it pairs perfectly with your beer can chicken for a complete and satisfying meal.
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Ginataang Sitaw at Kalabasa with Crabs
Main Ingredients: Blue Crabs, Calabaza, String Beans, Coconut Milk, Fish
This Filipino dish is a unique and delicious way to use up any leftover beer can chicken. The chicken is shredded and mixed with a creamy coconut milk sauce, along with green beans and squash. The addition of crab meat adds a touch of seafood flavor to the dish, making it a perfect pairing with your chicken.
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Cheese and Bacon Calabaza Squash Spread
Main Ingredients: Calabaza, Shallot, Bacon, Heavy Cream, Cheese, Spice
If you're looking for a tasty appetizer to serve with your beer can chicken, try this Cheese and Bacon Calabaza Squash Spread. The squash is roasted and then blended with cream cheese, bacon, and spices for a creamy and flavorful spread. Serve it with crackers or bread for a delicious and easy snack.
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Hearty Calabaza Stew, a Tex-Mex
Main Ingredients: Ground Chuck, Red Bell Pepper, Calabaza, Onion, Ears Of
This Tex-Mex inspired stew is the perfect way to use up any leftover calabaza squash from your beer can chicken recipe. The squash is cooked in a savory broth along with beans, corn, and a variety of spices. Serve it with some warm tortillas and your beer can chicken for a hearty and satisfying meal.
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Caldo Santo (Puerto Rican Coconut Seafood Stew)
Main Ingredients: Olive Oil, White Onion, Sofrito, Garlic, Ginger, Fish
This traditional Puerto Rican stew is a flavorful and comforting dish that is perfect for pairing with beer can chicken. Made with a variety of seafood, including shrimp, clams, and lobster, and flavored with coconut milk and spices, this stew is rich and satisfying. Serve it with some crusty bread for a complete meal.
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Ham & Split Pea Soup
Main Ingredients: Onion, Green Pepper, Garlic, Flour, Split Peas, Ham
This classic soup is a great way to use up any leftover ham from your beer can chicken recipe. The split peas are cooked in a savory broth along with chunks of ham, carrots, and other vegetables for a hearty and comforting dish. Serve it with your beer can chicken for a well-rounded and delicious meal.
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Beef Empanadas {empanadas De Carne}
Main Ingredients: All Purpose Flour, Salt, Unsalted Butter, Egg, Water
These flavorful empanadas are the perfect way to use up any leftover beer can chicken. The chicken is mixed with a variety of spices and wrapped in a flaky pastry for a delicious and portable meal. Serve them as an appetizer or pair them with your beer can chicken for a complete and satisfying meal.
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Locrio de Salami (Rice and Dominican-Style Salami)
Main Ingredients: Vegetable Oil, Salami, Cubanelle, Oregano, Crushed
This traditional Dominican dish is a delicious and unique way to use up any leftover beer can chicken. The chicken is mixed with flavorful salami and cooked with rice, peppers, and onions for a hearty and comforting meal. Serve it with your beer can chicken for a taste of Dominican cuisine.
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Conkies: Cornmeal and Raisin Pudding in Banana Leaves
Main Ingredients: Banana Leaves, Light Brown Sugar, Milk, Egg, Ground
This traditional Caribbean dish is a unique and delicious way to use up any leftover beer can chicken. The chicken is mixed with a variety of spices and wrapped in a cornmeal and raisin mixture, then steamed in banana leaves for a flavorful and satisfying treat. Serve it as a side dish with your beer can chicken for a taste of Caribbean flavor.
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Fanesca or Ecuadorian Easter Soup
Main Ingredients: Bacalao, Squash, Zapallo, Shredded Cabbage, Fava Beans
This hearty and flavorful soup is traditionally served during Easter in Ecuador. It's made with a variety of beans, grains, and vegetables, and is flavored with bacalao, a type of salted fish, for a unique and delicious taste. Serve it with your beer can chicken for a complete and satisfying meal.
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Pumpkin Curry
Main Ingredients: West Indian Pumpkin, Curry, Vegetable Oil, Nigella
This creamy and flavorful curry is the perfect way to use up any leftover pumpkin from your beer can chicken recipe. The pumpkin is cooked in a savory coconut milk sauce along with a variety of spices, making it a perfect pairing with your savory chicken. Serve it over rice for a complete and satisfying meal.
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Jamaican Pumpkin Soup (Pureed)
Main Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Onion, Garlic, Celery, Green Onions
This smooth and creamy soup is a delicious and unique way to use up any leftover beer can chicken. The chicken is mixed with a variety of herbs and spices and then blended with pumpkin and coconut milk for a rich and flavorful soup. Serve it with your beer can chicken for a complete and satisfying meal.
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Vegan 'Sancocho' (Root Stew)
Main Ingredients: Olive Oil, Garlic Cloves, Sweet Peppers, Oregano
This vegan version of the traditional Puerto Rican stew is a flavorful and satisfying dish that is perfect for pairing with beer can chicken. Made with a variety of root vegetables and flavored with a variety of herbs and spices, this stew is both healthy and delicious. Serve it with your chicken for a well-rounded meal.
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Recipe for Fanesca: Ecudorian Easter Soup
Main Ingredients: Bacalao, Squash, Zapallo, Shredded Cabbage, Fava Beans
If you're looking for a unique and flavorful soup to pair with your beer can chicken, try this recipe for Fanesca. This traditional Ecuadorian soup is packed with nutritious beans, grains, and vegetables, and is flavored with cumin, oregano, and annatto for a burst of Latin American flavor. Serve it with your beer can chicken for a satisfying and delicious meal.
These delicious empanadas are the perfect way to use up any leftover beer can chicken. The chicken is mixed with spices and wrapped in a flaky pastry for a satisfying and portable meal. Serve them as an appetizer or pair them with your beer can chicken for a complete and delicious meal.
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Caldo de Res (Mexican Beef Soup)
Main Ingredients: Beef Shanks, Onion, Garlic, Tomatoes, Bay Leaves, Salt
This comforting and hearty soup is a popular dish in Mexican cuisine. Made with beef, vegetables, and a variety of herbs and spices, this soup is a perfect pairing for your beer can chicken. Serve it with some warm tortillas for a complete and satisfying meal.
The Perfect Pumpkin Filling
Choosing the Right Pumpkin
When it comes to making empanadas de calabaza, using the right pumpkin is key. While you can use canned pumpkin puree, using fresh pumpkin will give your empanadas a richer and more authentic flavor. Look for small to medium-sized pumpkins, such as sugar pumpkins or pie pumpkins, as they have a denser and sweeter flesh.
Roasting the Pumpkin
To make the pumpkin filling, start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds and stringy bits. Place the pumpkin halves on a baking sheet, cut side down, and roast for about 45 minutes, or until the flesh is soft and easily pierced with a fork. Let the pumpkin cool, then scoop out the flesh and mash it with a fork or puree it in a food processor.
The Perfect Spice Blend
To give the pumpkin filling its signature flavor, you will need to add a blend of warm spices. The most common spices used in empanadas de calabaza are cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. These spices not only add a delicious aroma but also enhance the sweetness of the pumpkin. You can adjust the amount of spices to your liking, but a general rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon of cloves for every 2 cups of pumpkin puree.
The Perfect Empanada Dough
Choosing the Right Flour
The key to making the perfect empanada dough is using the right type of flour. For empanadas de calabaza, we recommend using all-purpose flour as it gives the dough a good balance of tenderness and strength. Avoid using bread flour or cake flour, as they will result in a dough that is too tough or too soft.
Adding the Right Ingredients
Aside from flour, the other ingredients you will need to make the dough are unsalted butter, egg, salt, and water. The butter adds richness and flavor to the dough, while the egg helps bind everything together. The salt is important for balancing the sweetness of the pumpkin filling, and the water is needed to bring the dough together.
The Perfect Technique
To make the dough, start by cutting the butter into small cubes and placing them in the freezer for about 10 minutes. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt, then add the cold butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a separate bowl, beat the egg and add it to the flour mixture, along with a few tablespoons of ice-cold water. Use a fork to mix everything together until a dough forms. Divide the dough into equal-sized balls and roll them out to make the empanada shells.
Assembling and Baking the Empanadas
Proper Sealing Techniques
To avoid any leaks, it is important to properly seal the empanadas. Place a spoonful of the pumpkin filling in the center of the empanada shell, leaving a small border around the edge. Brush the edges with water, then fold the dough over to form a half-moon shape. Use a fork to crimp the edges and seal them tightly.
Baking to Perfection
To achieve a perfectly golden and flaky crust, bake the empanadas in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 20-25 minutes, or until they are lightly golden. Let them cool for a few minutes before serving, and enjoy the delicious combination of sweet pumpkin filling and buttery crust.
Now that you have the recipe for the perfect empanadas de calabaza, it's time to get baking! These tasty treats are sure to be a hit at any fall gathering or holiday celebration. So put on your favorite Mexican music, gather your ingredients, and enjoy the delicious flavors of this traditional Mexican dessert.
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