Roasted Butternut Squash Empanadas

Serve yourself a warm, toasty handful of roasted squash goodness!

Serves: 6Hands-on: 40 minutesTotal: 1 hour 30 minutesDifficulty: Medium

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Serves: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 1⁄4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 3⁄4 tsp. salt, divided
  • 8 Tbsp. cold vegan margarine, cut into small pieces
  • Egg replacement equal to 1 egg
  • 1⁄3 cup ice water
  • 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 3 cups cubed butternut squash
  • 1 medium onion, peeled and quartered
  • 1 clove garlic, unpeeled
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1⁄4 tsp. cracked black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1⁄2 tsp. dried thyme
  • 1⁄4 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 6 oz. vegan cream cheese
  • 2 Tbsp. soy milk

Directions

  • Whisk together the flour and 1⁄4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Cut the cold margarine into the flour with a pastry cutter or large fork, until mixture has the consistency of coarse crumbs. In a separate bowl, mix the egg replacement with the ice water and apple cider vinegar. Add wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir until just moistened.
  • Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead only a couple of times to form a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and gently press into a disk shape with the palm of your hand. Chill dough for 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Place squash, onion, and garlic on a rimmed baking sheet. Toss with olive oil, remaining 1⁄2 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until squash is soft and beginning to caramelize around the edges. Allow to cool.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Peel the garlic clove. In a medium bowl, mash cooled squash with garlic, lemon juice, thyme, and cinnamon. Stir in more salt and pepper, if desired. Set aside. Roll empanada dough out to about 1⁄8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut out 6 circles (6 inches wide), rerolling scraps as needed.
  • Spread 2 tablespoons vegan cream cheese in a strip down the center of each circle, leaving a 1⁄2-inch border. Add 1⁄4 to 1⁄3 cup squash filling. Fold one side of dough over the filling in a half-moon shape and seal by crimping the border edges with the tines of a fork. Place empanadas on a baking sheet and brush tops with soy milk.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool several minutes before serving.