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Rodanchas

Rodanchas (רודנצ'אס): Sephardic rose-shaped pumpkin pastries for Rosh Hashanah

Rodanchas are the Rosh Hashanah pastries of Sephardic families from Turkey and Rhodes, baked in Jerusalem and Bat Yam because pumpkin, kalabasa, is one of the new-year blessings. A thin oil dough is spread with sweet spiced pumpkin and rolled into coils that open like roses in the oven. They are crisp at the edges and soft and jammy inside, eaten with coffee after the festive meal or for breakfast. The mistake is a watery filling, which soaks the dough and stops the roses holding their shape. Chef's tip: roast the pumpkin rather than boiling it, then cook the purée in a pan until it is thick enough for a spoon to leave a trail.
Total time
90 min
Difficulty
medium
Serves
16
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Ingredients

Serves16

For the dough

  • 14 oz plain flour
  • ½ cup sunflower oil
  • ¾ cup warm water
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp sugar

For the filling

To finish

  • 1 eggbeaten
  • 1 tbsp icing sugar (optional)

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Method

0/7 done
  1. Step 1: Heat the oven to 400°F. Roast 1 ¾ lb pumpkin or butternut squash on a tray for 30 minutes until soft and lightly browned at the edges.

    30 min
  2. Step 2: Mash it and cook in a pan with 3 ½ oz sugar and 1 tsp ground cinnamon over a medium heat, stirring, for 10–15 minutes until thick and jammy. Stir in 1 ¾ oz walnuts and cool.

    15 min
  3. Step 3: Mix 14 oz plain flour, ½ tsp salt and 1 tbsp sugar, add ½ cup sunflower oil and ¾ cup warm water and knead into a soft, smooth dough. Rest for 20 minutes.

    20 min
  4. Step 4: Heat the oven to 350°F. Divide the dough into 16 pieces and roll each into a strip 30 x 8 cm, very thin.

    15 min
  5. Step 5: Spread a thin line of filling along one long edge of each strip, roll it up into a tube, then coil the tube into a rose and tuck the end underneath.

    15 min
  6. Step 6: Set on a lined tray, brush with 1 egg and bake for 30–35 minutes, until golden and crisp.

    35 min
  7. Step 7: Cool, then dust with 1 tbsp icing sugar.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
200 kcal
Protein
3 g
Carbs
28 g
Fat
9 g
Fibre
2 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does rodanchas take?
About 90 minutes in total: 50 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
16 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
What can I use instead of plain flour?
Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
What can I use instead of sugar?
Caster sugar, same amount.

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