Chilean-Style Sopaipillas

4.3
(15)

This is a traditional Chilean snack, or maybe an appetizer. The truth is that it's a snack eaten during wintertime, especially when it rains. It is typical to arrive home after walking through the rainy streets of Santiago and sit down to have a cup of tea and eat a couple of sopaipillas. You can also eat ones sold by street vendors, but they usually don't taste as good as homemade ones. If you can't find zapallo, pumpkin is a good substitute.

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5
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Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
25 mins
Additional Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Servings:
12
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 12 servings

  • 9 ounces zapallo squash

  • 4 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 10 tablespoons butter, melted

  • 2 cups canola oil for pan-frying

Directions

  1. Peel, seed, and cut zapallo into chunks. Place in a saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook until zapallo is soft and easily pierced with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and allow to cool slightly.

  2. Mix flour, baking soda, and salt together in a mixing bowl, and set aside. Stir together squash and melted butter. Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture until blended. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until soft and satiny, adding a little more flour if necessary. Cover dough with a towel and allow to rest 15 minutes.

  3. Roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thick, and cut into 3-inch diameter circles. Poke each circle a few times with a fork to make holes and prevent rising.

  4. Pour oil into a large, deep skillet and heat over medium-high heat until hot, 385 degrees F (195 degrees C). Place several of the dough circles into hot oil; cook until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Cook remainder of dough circles in batches.

Tips

Zapallo, sometimes called Jamaican pumpkin, is a type of winter squash from South America. If it's not available, sugar pumpkin makes a good substitute.

Editor's Note:

We have determined the nutritional value of oil for frying based on a retention value of 10% after cooking. Amount will vary depending on cooking time and temperature, ingredient density, and specific type of oil used.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

286 Calories
14g Fat
36g Carbs
5g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 286
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 14g 18%
Saturated Fat 6g 32%
Cholesterol 25mg 8%
Sodium 369mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 36g 13%
Dietary Fiber 2g 5%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 5g 10%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 16mg 1%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 125mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.