Tulumba Albanian Version Recipes

TULUMBA (ALBANIAN VERSION)

Steps:

• SYRUP:.
• Put the sugar, water and lemon juice into a saucepan, and after melting the sugar by stirring, allow it to boil until moderately thick.
• Set aside to cool.
• PASTRY:.
• Heat the margarine in a saucepan, add the water and salt and bring to the boil.
• Reduce heat and add the flour at once.
• Stir the mixture constantly with a wooden spoon and continue until mixture leaves the sides of the pan and forms a ball.
• This should take 6 minutes, then remove pan from heat and set aside to cool.
• When cool, add the eggs and knead for approximately 10 minutes.
• Using a pastry bag with a large nozzle or a serrated spoon, put 7-8 pastries in a pan containing the heated olive oil.
• Start frying the pastry over low heat, increase heat when pastry puffs up a bit and fry until golden.
• Remove fried pastry with a perforated spoon, draining away the oil, then put into the syrup.
• Strain off the syrup, place tulumba on serving plate and serve when cool.

TULUMBA (DEEP-FRIED PASTRY WITH SYRUP)

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups of water and 6 tablespoons oil to a boil in a large pot over high heat. Remove from heat and stir in flour and baking powder until well combined. Allow to cool, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add eggs, one by one, and then beat with an electric mixer until mixture is smooth and homogeneous.
• Meanwhile, prepare the syrup. Combine sugar and 2 cups water in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool, at least 20 to 30 minutes.
• While syrup cools, heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spoon dough into a tulumba syringe or an icing bag with a special nozzle and pipe small portions of dough into the hot oil. You can also drop spoonfuls of dough into the hot oil, but then the tulumbas won't have the traditional shape. Work in batches and fry tulumbas until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Let cool, about 10 minutes. Transfer tulumbas to a bowl and pour cooled syrup on top. Allow to soak for at least 2 hours.

FRIED MEATBALLS (ALBANIAN NAME: QOFTE Të FëRGUARA)

Steps:

• Cooking Instructions:
• Soak bread in water and squeeze hard to drain. Add ground meat, bread crumbs, oil or melted butter, onion, parsley, salt, pepper, and mint. Mix thoroughly, and form into 1-inch thick patties, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and oregano. Roll in flour and fry in hot oil. Serve hot with French Fries or mashed potatoes.