Honey Puffs Greek Loukoumades Recipes

LOUKOUMADES - TRADITIONAL GREEK HONEY PUFFS RECIPE & HISTORY

Steps:

• The liquid part of the Loukoumades mixture can be composed of a half cup of milk and a half cup of water or by just 1 cup of water. To obtain a perfect result, you want the liquid lukewarm.
• First of all, pour 1 cup of liquid in a bowl, then add the yeast along with 1 tbsp of sugar, and melt stirring with your hands.
• Now, sift the flour and pour it a little at a time, stirring and adding 1 tsp of salt on the halfway. Finally, wrap the bowl and store into the oven at room temperature until the mass doubles its size.
• When the Loukoumades mixture is well raised and ready to be fried, prepare the honey syrup.
• Combine a half cup of honey and a half cup of water in a small pot, then stir over medium heat until melted, then turn off the flame and cover with a lid.
• Now, pour the oil into a deep pot a bring to 350° F (177° C). To cook the honey puffs to perfection, it is critical maintain the oil temperature between 340 and 350° F (170 to 177° C).
• At this point, wet a teaspoon and model a ball of the mixture, then drop the ball into the oil (please be careful of oils slashings!).
• Fry the ball a little at a time, until nicely golden outside and well cooked inside.
• Finally, dry the Loukoumades over paper towels then soak them a couple of minutes into the honey syrup, still hot.
• Place the honey puffs on a plate, then garnish with the rest of the honey, a sprinkle of cinnamon powder.
• Depending on the preferences, complete with sesame seeds and/or chopped walnuts. Serve immediately.

HONEY PUFFS, GREEK: LOUKOUMADES

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in a little lukewarm water, mix flour and salt in a bowl and slowly add yeast mixture being sure to mix well.
• Slowly add more warm water until you have a medium paste. Cover the bowel with a clean cloth and stand in warm water for about 1 hour. The batter should have doubled in size and formed "bubbles".
• Heat oll and add teaspoonfuls of the batter to the oil, cook until they turn golden brown.
• Remove from the oil and drain on kitchen paper while making the syrup.
• Syrup: boil the honey, sugar, water and cinamom for 10 minutes. Pour the syrup over the honey puffs/ loukoumades and garnish with a sprinkle of cinnamon powder. Serve hot.

LOUKOUMADES

Steps:

• Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water in a small bowl. The water should be no more than 100 degrees F (40 degrees C). Let stand for 5 minutes until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam. In a large bowl, mix the warm milk, sugar, and salt, and mix to dissolve. Pour the yeast mixture into the milk mixture, and stir to combine.
• Beat in the butter, eggs, and flour until the mixture forms a smooth, soft dough. Cover the bowl, and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 30 minutes. Stir the dough well, cover, and let rise 30 more minutes.
• Mix honey and 1/2 cup of water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Turn off the heat and let the honey syrup cool.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Oil should be about 2 inches deep.
• Place a large table or soup spoon in a glass of water near the batter. Scoop up about 2 tablespoons of dough per puff with the wet spoon, drop it into the wet palm of your hand, and roll it back into the spoon to create a round shape. Do not overhandle the puffy, soft dough. Drop the dough balls into the hot oil in batches, wetting the spoon each time you make a dough ball. Fry in the hot oil until golden brown on the bottom, and roll them over to cook the other side, 2 to 3 minutes per batch. Gently set the loukoumades aside to drain on paper towels.
• Place the loukoumades on a baking sheet, drizzle them with honey syrup, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve warm.

LOUKOUMATHES: HONEY PUFFS

Steps:

• Sift the flour with the baking powder into a bowl.
• Add sugar, oil (or butter or margarine), milk, and the egg, and mix with a wooden spoon until smooth.
• Heat 1-2 inches of oil in a saucepan or deep frying pan to just below the smoke point (medium to medium-high on most stoves).
• When the oil is hot, drop the batter by the small teaspoonful into the oil and fry until golden on all sides.
• Drain on paper toweling.
• Get enough dough on your spoon to equal the size of a unshelled almond.
• Keep a small bowl of cold water next to the workspace and dip finger before pushing batter into the oil (to keep batter from sticking).
• Place on serving platter and drizzle with honey.
• Dust with walnuts and cinnamon, and serve.