Loukoumades
Small balls of yeasted batter dropped into hot oil, puffed and golden, then soaked in warm honey syrup and showered with cinnamon and walnuts. The batter is loose and sticky; a wet spoon, or squeezing it through your fist, is how they get their round shape.
Ingredients
- all-purpose flour — 300 g
- dried yeast — 2 tsp
- sugar — 1 tbsp
- salt — 0.5 tsp
- warm water — 300 ml
- sunflower oil, for frying — 1 l
- honey — 200 g
- water — 100 ml
- ground cinnamon — 1 tsp
- walnuts, finely chopped — 50 g
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, yeast, sugar and salt, then beat in the warm water to a smooth, loose batter.
- Cover and leave in a warm place for 60 minutes, until doubled and full of bubbles.
- Meanwhile bring the honey and water to the boil, simmer for 3 minutes and keep the syrup warm.
- Heat the oil in a deep pan to 175°C.
- Dip a teaspoon in cold water, scoop up the batter and push it into the oil with another wet spoon; fry 8 to 10 at a time.
- Fry for 4 minutes, turning, until puffed and golden, then lift them out onto paper.
- Toss the hot balls in the warm syrup, pile them on a plate and sprinkle with cinnamon and walnuts; eat at once.