Fried Pastry Spirals With Honey Sesame And Walnuts Recipes

FRIED PASTRY SPIRALS WITH HONEY, SESAME, AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Stir together flour and salt in a bowl, then make a well in center and add raki, lemon juice, 3/4 teaspoon oil, and water. Stir until a soft dough forms. Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead, working in just enough additional flour to keep dough from sticking, until dough is smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature 1 hour.
• Bring water, sugar, honey, and zests to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Cool syrup.
• Halve dough. Roll out 1 half into a roughly 18- by 11-inch (paper-thin) rectangle on floured surface with a floured rolling pin, rotating rectangle and turning over occasionally and dusting with just enough flour to keep dough from sticking. Cut rectangle lengthwise into 5 (2-inch-wide) strips using pastry wheel or a sharp knife, then transfer strips to a dry kitchen towel dusted with flour, gently stretching strips to 20 inches as you transfer them. Roll out remaining dough and make 5 more strips in same manner.
• Heat 1 inch oil in a deep 12-inch heavy skillet until it registers 375°F on thermometer (see cooks' note, below). Working with 1 strip at a time, carefully slip one third of strip into hot oil (holding rest of strip aloft in one hand), then, using your other hand, hook end of strip (in oil) between tines of long-handled fork. Rotate fork, tilting it upright to be perpendicular to skillet and wrapping dough into beginning of spiral. As dough in oil begins to puff, continue to gradually lower uncooked part of strip into oil, rotating fork to wrap pastry around fork in a loose spiral (this will take about 30 seconds total). Using regular fork, gently hold end of strip against spiral. Turn spiral over using both forks and fry until pale golden, about 30 seconds more. Transfer spiral to paper towels to drain. Fry remaining 9 strips in same manner. (Return oil to 375°F between spirals.)
• Toast walnuts and sesame seeds in a dry small skillet over moderately low heat, stirring constantly, until seeds are golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
• Reheat syrup until warm, then discard zests. Arrange spirals on a large platter and drizzle syrup over them, then sprinkle with walnut mixture.

CHINESE FRIED WALNUTS

Steps:

• Place walnuts in a medium stock pot. Cover with water and boil for 2 minutes. Strain, but do not rinse. Transfer to a bowl, and toss with sugar while still hot until well coated.
• Heat 3 inches of oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. When oil appears to shimmer, fry 1 nut to test for heat. Nut should begin to sizzle immediately. Fry 1/3 batch of nuts at a time for 4 to 5 minutes uncovered. Toss nuts before each batch, and repeat. Using a slotted spoon, transfer each batch to a cookie sheet to cool. Season to taste with salt, and break apart when cool.

WALNUT PASTRY ROLLS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, cook and stir 1-1/2 cups sugar and 1 cup evaporated milk until mixture comes to a boil. Transfer to a large bowl; stir in walnuts and honey. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into walnut mixture. Cover and refrigerate filling at least 2 hours. , For dough, in a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, combine 3 cups flour, salt and remaining sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Add the yeast mixture, egg yolks and remaining evaporated milk; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Turn onto a floured surface. Punch dough down; divide into four portions. Roll each portion into a 15x11-in. rectangle. Spread walnut filling to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side; pinch seams to seal and tuck ends under. Place seam side down on greased baking sheets. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 350°. Brush 2 tablespoons milk over tops and sides of rolls. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks., Combine confectioners' sugar and enough remaining milk to achieve desired consistency; drizzle over warm rolls.

SPIRAL FRITTERS WITH HONEY

Steps:

• Place flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a large bowl; whisk to combine. Make a well in center, and add eggs, ouzo, olive oil, orange juice, and 2 tablespoons honey. Lightly mix with a fork until dough is smooth and no longer sticky. (Add more flour if needed.)
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until dough is smooth, 10 to 15 minutes. (Alternatively, fit a mixer with a dough hook, and knead 8 to 10 minutes.) Cover dough with plastic, and let stand 30 to 60 minutes.
• Divide dough into 8 pieces. Using a rolling pin, flatten 1 piece, rolling from the center outward, easing the pressure when the pin is close to the edge, until slightly thinner than the widest setting on a pasta machine. Dust lightly with flour, then feed through a pasta machine on the widest setting (#1), supporting both ends of the sheet with your palms to keep it flat; repeat twice. Turn dial to next narrower setting. Pass dough through twice. Continue to roll dough twice through each ever-finer setting, until thin (#5). Repeat with rest of pieces.
• With a fluted pastry cutting wheel, cut each sheet of dough into strips that are 20 inches long and 1 inch wide.
• Heat vegetable oil in a medium saucepan until it registers 350 degrees. Wrap end of 1 strip of dough around index and middle fingers, pinching end to create a loop of dough with a long tail. Wrap tail around 3 fingers, then around 4 fingers. Pinch end against spiral. Gently drop spiral into hot oil, and cook, turning once, until golden brown and puffed, about 2 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Repeat.
• Transfer fritters to a serving dish, and pour remaining 6 cups honey generously over top. Sprinkle with cinnamon and walnuts. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SESAME GLAZED WALNUTS

Steps:

• In a wok, heat oil for deep frying to 300 deg. over med. heat. Add walnuts and deep fry turning frequently, until golden for four to five minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels.
• Combine butter and brown sugar in a saucepan. Cook stirring, over low heat until brown sugar melts. Add honey and five-spice powder. Mix well. Remove from heat and add walnuts and sesame seeds; gently to coat.
• Spread mixture in a foil lined baking pan or plate. Let stand until cool. Break into bite sized pieces before serving.