Kolokotes (Pastries Stuffed with Pumpkin) is a traditional Cypriot recipe for a classic vegetarian snack of light pastries with a sweet red pumpkin filling. The full recipe is presented here and I hope you enjoy this classic Cypriot version of: Pastries Stuffed with Pumpkin (Kolokotes).
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These are light pastries with a sweet filling that are typically served as a snack, but which could, at a pinch, be served as a dessert with yoghurt.
Ingredients:
For the Stuffing:
350g sweet red pumpkin flesh, diced
3 tbsp crushed wheat (pourgouri)
3 tbsp corn oil
2 tbsp sugar
90g sultanas
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly-ground black pepper
For the Dough:
400g plain flour
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt
120ml corn oil
120ml water
Method:
Combine all the ingredients for the stuffing in a bowl. Cover and set aside for 24 hours to mature.
The following day, when ready to cook, prepare the dough. Sift the flour and salt into a bowl. From a hollow in the mixture then pour in the oil. Using your fingers, mix thoroughly until the oil is completely mixed into the flour. Add the lemon juice and water a little at a time, kneading the ingredients until they come together as a firm dough.
Cover the dough with a thick cloth and set aside to rest for 40 minutes. After this time, knead the dough well for 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic then divide into 6 or 8 pieces. Roll these into balls then roll out the balls to form long and wide sheets about 3mm thick.
From these sheets cut out rounds about 15cm in diameter. Brush the rounds lightly with water then arrange 1 1/2 tbsp of the stuffing mix in the centre of each pastry round. Fold the pastry over, enclosing the filling in the centre and giving a half-moon shape.
Using the tines of a fork press down on the edges of these kolokotes to seal. Arrange the kolokotes on a lightly-greased baking tray then transfer to an oven pre-heated to 180°C and bake for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown and piping hot all the way through.
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