Portuguese Fried Pumpkin Dreams Recipe
"Sonhos de abóbora" is a traditional Portuguese dessert, which translates to "pumpkin dreams" in English. It's a type of fried doughnut made with pumpkin puree and flavored with cinnamon and sugar. The dough is made with flour, eggs, and yeast, and then mixed with pumpkin puree, which gives it a slightly sweet and earthy flavor.
After the dough is prepared, it's shaped into small balls and then deep-fried until golden brown. Once they're fried, the pumpkin dreams are usually coated in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon, which adds a delicious sweetness and spice to the dessert.
Sonhos de abóbora is often served during festivals and celebrations in Portugal, particularly around Christmas and New Year's. It's a popular dessert because it's easy to make and can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature. Some people also like to serve it with a drizzle of honey or a sprinkle of powdered sugar on top.
Ingredients
Directions
- De-skin and de-seed the pumpkin (or squash).
- In a saucepan cook the pumpkin with the water and salt.
- Once the pumpkin is soft and tender, remove the pumpkin and let it strain most of its liquid. If you have a cheese cloth it is best for straining the liquid. If not use a regular strainer. This should take 3-4 hours.
- In a blender, add the pumpkin, rum, and sugar and blend it until it is a smooth and even consistency.
- Once done, pour it into a bowl and add the flour and mix it in well.
- Use a tablespoon and begin to knead the dough into balls for frying. If the dough does not have a strong enough consistency, add some more flour and knead it in accordingly.
- Pour a one inch layer of oil into a frying pan and begin frying the balls. Usually it takes about 1-2 minutes on both sides until they are golden brown.
- Fry them individually until they are golden brown, then set aside on paper towels to dry.
- Once they are all done and fried, sprinkle the fried cakes with sugar and cinnamon.
