Pumpkin Curry Empanadas

By ROBandSEAN

These handheld savory pies are perfect for a party, with your favorite chutney on the side. Empanadas get their name from the Spanish word empanar, "to bake in pastry." We've used pie dough for a more delicate, buttery crust.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
• 12 ounces cubed peeled baking pumpkin or butternut or kabocha squash
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4 cup currants, softened 10 minutes in hot water to cover
• 1 large egg, slightly beaten
• for pie dough
• 3 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 cup cold, cubed unsalted butter

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Rub a rimmed baking sheet with 1 tbsp. oil. Spread pumpkin on sheet and roast, uncovered, turning once, till tender when pierced, 30 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tbsp. oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until translucent, about 2 minutes. Stir in spices and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
3. Transfer onion to a medium mixing bowl. Drain currants and stir into bowl. Add warm pumpkin and mix well, mashing with back of a spoon to create a slightly chunky mixture.
4. Working with one pie-dough disk at a time, roll dough on a lightly floured surface into a 1/8-in.-thick round. Using a 4-in. ring cutter, cut out 20 circles, rerolling scraps.
5. Mix 1 tbsp. water into egg and brush onto dough rounds. Spoon 1 tbsp. pumpkin mixture into center of each round, fold over, and seal edges with tines of a fork.
6. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Arrange empanadas on sheets, spaced slightly apart.
7. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with chutney.
Make ahead: Follow recipe through step 5. Freeze in an airtight container. Then bake from frozen, 25 to 30 minutes at 375°.


For pie dough

1. Whirl together flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add butter and pulse into pea-size pieces. Drizzle 2/3 cup very cold water over crumbs and pulse just until moistened.
2. Turn dough onto a work surface and gather into a ball, turning to combine any dry crumbs.
3. Divide dough in half, form each into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill at least 30 minutes