Skip to main content

Pumpkin and Fennel Pastries

3.8

(7)

Image may contain Food Dessert and Bread
Pumpkin and Fennel PastriesMelanie Acevedo

Bourékia me kolokíetha

Cooks' note:

·Filling can be made 1 day ahead. Let cool, and chill, covered. Return to room temperature before using.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    2 hrs

  • Yield

    Makes 25 individual pastries

Ingredients

1 fennel bulb (sometimes called anise)
About 2 1/3 cups olive oil plus additional for brushing
1 medium onion, chopped
1 small pumpkin or winter squash (1 pound), peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/3 cup coarse (#3) bulgur
1/2 teaspoon dried Aleppo chile flakes or other dried hot red pepper flakes, or ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
1 1/2 cups crumbled feta (8 ounces)
1/2 cup grated myzíthra cheese or ricotta salata
25 (8-inch) squares spring-roll pastry sheets, thawed if frozen
About 2 cups safflower oil
1 large egg white, lightly beaten

Preparation

  1. Make filling:

    Step 1

    Chop 1/2 cup fennel fronds and reserve, then remove stalks and tough outer layer from bulb. Halve bulb and grate on large holes of a 4-sided grater.

    Step 2

    Heat 1/3 cup olive oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté onion, stirring, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add pumpkin and grated fennel and cook, stirring frequently and scraping up any brown bits, until vegetables are soft, about 12 minutes. Stir in bulgur and chile flakes and cook 2 minutes. Add fennel fronds and mint, then remove from heat and cover. Let stand 15 minutes. Stir in cheeses and season with salt and black pepper.

  2. Make pastries:

    Step 3

    Keeping remaining sheets covered, brush 1 spring-roll sheet lightly with some safflower oil and place a scant 2 tablespoons filling 1 inch from edge closest to you. Form filling into a log, leaving a 1/2-inch border on each side. Fold bottom of sheet over filling, then fold in sides. Loosely roll away from you to form a cylinder, brush top edge with egg white, and press to seal. Bend cylinder into a horseshoe shape. Make more pastries in same manner.

    Step 4

    Heat enough safflower and olive oils to measure 3/4 inch in a deep 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until a deep-fat thermometer registers 350°F. Fry pastries 2 or 3 at a time, turning once, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes.

    Step 5

    Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain and return oils to 350°F between batches. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
Crunchy and crowd-pleasing, this salad can be prepared in advance and customized to your heart’s content.
Baking meatballs and green beans on two sides of the same sheet pan streamlines the cooking process for this saucy, savory dinner.
Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.
A garlicky pistachio topping takes this sunny summer pasta from good to great.