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A close up of a bowl of puré de calabaza with a pumpkin and some piloncillos in the background

Puré de Calabaza (Pumpkin Filling for Empanadas)

by Gemma Aguayo-Murphy
In this Puré de Calabaza recipe, the delicious flavors of pumpkin, piloncillo, and fall spices are combined to create a filling that is perfect for empanadas, pumpkin pie, and other tasty desserts. You can even eat it on its own, mixed with a drizzle of milk, for a delicious and creamy pudding.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 5 cups
Calories 285 kcal

Equipment

  • immersion blender or potato masher
  • Large pot

Ingredients
  

  • 1 5-7.5 lbs pumpkin (see notes)
  • 3 large piloncillo cones
  • 2 Ceylon cinnamon sticks
  • 5-7 whole cloves
  • 1 ½ cups water

Instructions
 

  • Wash the pumpkin. Cut it in half and use a spoon to scoop out the seeds.
  • Cut the pumpkin into large pieces and place the pieces in a large pot. Add the water, piloncillos, cloves, and cinnamon sticks.
  • Cook on medium low heat for 45 minutes. Mix every 10-15 minutes to ensure the piloncillo fully dissolves and the pumpkin is mixed with the syrup at the bottom of the pot.
  • At the 45 minute mark, test the pumpkin with a fork to make sure it is very tender. If it is not, cook for 5-10 minutes longer.
  • Remove the pumpkin from the pot and allow it to cool. Remove the cloves and discard them. Once the pumpkin is cool, use a spoon to scoop the flesh from the skin.
  • Add the pumpkin back to the pot. Use an immersion blender or a potato masher to puree the pumpkin with the syrup. Cook the puree on medium-low heat until it thickens.
  • Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to one week or freeze for 3-6 months.

Notes

  • The pumpkin in the ingredient list is referring to a carving pumpkin. A pumpkin of this size will make about 5-7 cups of puree.
For Sugar Pumpkins (also known as pie pumpkins):
  • Sugar pumpkins weigh between 2-4 pounds. Use 2 larger-sized sugar pumpkins for the exact recipe shown. This will make about 8 cups of puree.
  • For only one sugar pumpkin (yielding about 4 cups of puree), adjust the ingredients as follows:
    • 1 ½ - 2 piloncillo cones
    • 1 Ceylon Cinnamon Stick
    • 4 Whole Cloves

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 69.2gProtein: 7.5gFat: 2.1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 38mgPotassium: 1412mgFiber: 20gSugar: 36.1gCalcium: 184mgIron: 10mg
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