Trutas (Sweet Potato Pastry)
Trutas, (Sweet Potato Pastry) a very popular around Christmas, is very similar to another pastry called Azeveias. Read the recipe through to make sure you have all the ingredients. Though it is a little bit of work, it is worth the while. You can substitute pumpkin or sweet squash as an alternative. An orange-infused honey glaze is a variation of the finish.
Makes about 3 1/2 dozen
4- medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed, unpeeled, left whole
- In a medium pot, cover the potatoes with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 25 minutes, then drain. When cool enough to handle, peel and puree the potatoes. Set the purée in a mesh strainer set over a bowl. Cover and chill overnight to allow excess water to drain.
Next day, make the filling:
- 3 cups, firmly packed, well-drained sweet potato purée
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- Grated peel of 1 orange
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 egg yolks
Combine the ingredients in a medium bowl until well blended.
Make the dough:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup lard or Crisco, melted
- Generous 2 tablespoons of your favorite brandy
- Egg wash
- Corn or grapeseed oil for frying
- 1 cup sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Parchment paper
- Sheet pan
1. Pile the flour into a large bowl. Make a well in the center. While stirring pour in the melted butter, lard and brandy. Pulling in the flour as you mix, add the orange juice in small increments, until a medium dough is formed. Dump the dough on your workspace and knead until smooth, about 4 minutes.
2. Working in small batches, roll out the dough to about 1/16 thin Using a 3-inch diameter biscuit cutter, cut the dough into circles.
3. Place a spoonful of filling in the middle. Brush the edges with egg wash. Fold the dough in half, covering the filling and pinch the edges to seal. Place on a parchment lined sheet pan, giving a slight bend to the pastry to resemble jumping trout.
4. Repeat with remaining dough. Heat the oil to 350°F. Fry the pastries until golden.
5. Coat with the cinnamon sugar.
Note: You can also make a honey glaze to drizzle over by heating 1 cup of honey over low heat with the peel of 1 orange for about 20 minutes. Remove the peel and drizzle over the Trutas.