Butternut Squash Empanadas Recipe

by Dominic Chapman
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makes 6
50 minutes

Ingredients

Pastry

  • 500g of shortcrust pastry block
  • plain flour, for dusting
  • 1 egg yolk, beaten, to glaze

Filling

  • 1 red pepper
  • olive oil
  • 1 knob of butter
  • 1 butternut squash, peeled, diced and the seeds reserved
  • 1 swede, peeled and diced
  • 1 turnip, peeled and diced
  • 1 onion, peeled and diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and diced
  • 1 pinch of ground cumin
  • sage leaves, finely chopped
  • 120g of goat's cheese
  • salt
  • freshly ground black pepper

To serve

  • watercress
  • 1 bunch of chives, finely chopped
  • 3 tbsp of olive oil
  • 1 tbsp of white wine vinegar

Method

1
For the filling, rub the pepper with a little olive oil, then under a hot grill or over a gas flame, grill the pepper so that the skin blisters and chars, turning with tongs so that it is even, then place in a bowl, cover with clingfilm and allow to cool
  • 1 red pepper
  • olive oil
2
Melt a large knob of butter in a pan and sweat the onion with the crushed garlic and a pinch of cumin. When the onion starts to soften, add the squash, swede and turnip, and continue to sweat the vegetables down
  • 1 knob of butter
  • 1 onion, peeled and diced
  • 1 pinch of ground cumin
  • 2 garlic cloves, peeled and diced
  • 1 turnip, peeled and diced
  • 1 swede, peeled and diced
  • 1 butternut squash, peeled, diced and the seeds reserved
3
When cooked through, but still retaining their shape, remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper. Spread the vegetables out on a baking tray to allow them to cool as quickly as possible
  • salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
4
Peel and deseed the red pepper, then dice evenly and add to a large bowl with the cooled vegetables and chopped sage. Mix briefly to combine
  • sage leaves, finely chopped
5
For the butternut squash seeds, clean and dry the seeds, then add to a pan with a generous amount of olive oil and gently fry over a low heat until golden and crisp. Season with salt, then reserve for serving
6
To assemble the empanadas, divide the pastry into six pieces, then roll out each piece on a lightly floured surface to about 3mm thick. Cut each piece into a large circle (you could cut around a plate as a guide), transfer to baking baking trays and chill in the fridge for 10 minutes
  • plain flour, for dusting
  • 500g of shortcrust pastry block
7
Once rested, roll the rolling pin over each circle again to loosen it slightly and form an oblong shape
8
Place a couple of spoonfuls of the squash mixture and crumble over a sixth of the cheese into the centre of each pastry, then brush around the edge with the egg yolk
  • 120g of goat's cheese
  • 1 egg yolk, beaten, to glaze
9
Fold up the two largest edges around the filling and carefully pinch the two sides together all the way along until fully sealed. Fold the seam over to hide the join, then pinch together again to form a neat edge
10
Repeat for all six empanadas, then rest in the fridge for another 10 minutes, or until ready to cook
11
Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6
12
Brush the pastry all over with egg yolk, then bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown
13
Serve with a salad of watercress leaves and chopped chives, dressed with a simple vinaigrette and scattered with the fried squash seeds
  • watercress
  • 1 bunch of chives, finely chopped
  • 3 tbsp of olive oil
  • 1 tbsp of white wine vinegar