LOUKOUMADES MAKES ROUGHLY 50-60 1’’ DOUGHNUTS Timing: 45 minutes (not including time for dough to rise), including frying
2 cups lukewarm water
5 teaspoons active dry yeast
½ tsp coarse salt
1 tsp granulated sugar
1 cup whole milk
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
6 cups all-purpose flour
¾ to 1 gallon canola oil
Honey Syrup, for serving
In small bowl mix water, yeast, salt and sugar for about 10 minutes until it starts to bubble and is fully dissolved.
In a medium mixing bowl whisk together milk, eggs and vegetable shortening. (Vegetable shortening will be in small pieces)
In a large mixing bowl add flour and make a well. In the well, add yeast mixture and gradually add egg and milk mixture while stirring together the dough. The dough should be well combined and have good elasticity. Dough will be very sticky and appear lumpy.
Cover dough with kitchen towel and set aside in warm place for 1.5 hours.
While dough proofs, make and cool syrup.
After the dough has risen, add canola oil into a large heavy-bottomed pot and heat oil to 375 degrees F . To test the oil, add a little bit of dough to the pot. If it sinks and then immediately floats (with the oil bubbling) then the oil is ready.
Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Oil your palm and a spoon. Using your hand, squeeze the dough to form a 1 to 2” ball coming out of your fist. With your other hand use a spoon to release the dough to carefully drop into the oil.
Fill the pot with dough balls (about 20 to 25) and use a slotted spoon to push them into the oil and turn them on all sides, until golden brown, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Once golden brown, place the loukoumades on the paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Repeat with the rest of the dough, until finished. The remaining batches will cook faster than the first.
Let cool for 5 minutes. Top with honey syrup, or your favorite toppings of choice
Enjoy!
HONEY SYRUP Yield: 2 cups
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
½ cup honey
2 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
To make syrup: Add all ingredients together in a small saucepan and boil until sugar has dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Remove and discard cinnamon stick and cloves.