Pumpkin Taquitos with Dried Cherry Mole Sauce


Serves 6-8

Ingredients

2 cups fresh pumpkin, cubed about 1 ½ inches
1 small red shallot, chopped
1 dried chipotle chili (preferably mecca variety), crumbled
1 teaspoon cinnamon, freshly grated
1 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly grated
Avocado oil
16 soft corn tortillas, small
Maldon salt
Fresh local ricotta cheese
Dried Cherry Mole Sauce (recipe follows)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°.

Toss together the pumpkin, shallots, chilies, and spice in a large bowl. Toss in a few tablespoons avocado oil until lightly coated. Place on a greased baking dish and bake for about 20 -25 minutes or until the pumpkin is soft and the shallots are beginning to char. Place the pumpkin mixture in a shallow bowl and mash coarsely.

Steam the tortillas or dip in hot water before rolling the Taquitos. Place a few spoonfuls of the pumpkin mixture in each tortilla and roll tightly without cracking tortilla. Place seam side down on the baking sheet (no need to clean the baking sheet first!) Repeat until all the tortillas are used. Place in the oven and bake for another 15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and sprinkle with a little maldon salt.

To serve, place two taquitos on a little plate with a dollop of local fresh ricotta, drizzle the Dried Cherry Mole Sauce over the top.

Dried Cherry Mole Sauce

Makes 2 cups

2-3 dried ancho chilies
2 dried guajillo chilies
2-3 cloves garlic
1 medium yellow onion
½ cup raw almonds
3 whole cloves
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
4 tablespoons sesame seeds
¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup dried cherries
2 tablespoons duck fat or pumpkin seed oil
1 cup duck stock
1 ounce dark chocolate, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 425ËšF.

In a large bowl combine, chilies, garlic, onion, almonds, cloves, peppercorns, coriander, sesame seeds, and pumpkin seeds, salt and dried cherries and toss with duck fat. Place in oven and allow the ingredients to char a bit about 5 minutes, watch it carefully. Place all charred items in a medium saucepan and add the stock. Bring to a boil and reduce heat, simmer for 20 minutes or until all items are soft. Take off heat and add chocolate pieces. Place in blender and blend until smooth.