Empanadas De Calabasa Sefardicas (Sephardic Pumpkin Turnovers)

DIRECTIONS

• * NOTE: Can substitute half the amount of unbleached white pastry flour for the whole wheat pastry flour.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Lightly oil an aluminum baking sheet or line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
• To make the dough, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the oil and water. With your hands, work the mixture to form a soft dough, adding more dough if necessary so that it loses its stickiness.
• Cover dough, set aside and let rest.
• Meanwhile, combine the filling ingredients and mix well.
• Now on a floured surface roll out the prepared dough to 1/16" thickness. Use a 3" round cookie cutter to cut out the dough. (You could also use a tortilla press to form the turnovers.)
• Place one heaping teaspoon of the pumpkin filling on one side of each circle, fold over, slightly dampen edges with water, and pinch edges shut. I use my dim sum maker to seal the turnovers.
• Arrange the turnovers singly on the prepared baking sheet, brush lightly with egg wash and bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool on rack.
• The uncooked, filled turnovers can be frozen.