Zalabia (Lebanese Sweet Fritters)
Zalabia (Lebanese Sweet Fritters)
I guess every culture has their own fried dough specialties. Zalabia (Lebanese sweet fritters) - one of our favorite breakfast treats alongside Manakeesh - are traditional deep fried treats that are made of fermented dough - I call them a glorious affair. Simply because you can have them for breakfast with labneh and a cup of tea or dust them with some icing sugar and serve them as a dessert. Any way you eat them, they are really great.
Servings
22
Ingredients
- 21/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 3 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon white sesame seeds
- 2 tablespoon whole anise seeds
- 1 tablespoon powdered milk
- 1 cup lukewarm water
- 11/2 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 3 cup canola oil, for deep frying
Directions
- In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, dry yeast, sesame seeds, anise seeds, milk and oil.
- Add the lukewarm water. Mix and knead thoroughly with the palm of your hands. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and set aside for one hour or until the dough doubles in size.
- Divide the dough into equal balls roughly the size of an egg (about 22 balls)
- Roll each ball into a snack shape (about 15cm/6 inches long) with the palm of your hands.
- Using a rolling pin, lightly flatten each to 1.5 cm/ about ½ inch thick.
- With your finger, pierce creating 3 holes per dough. Set aside for 25 minutes.
- Heat the oil to an adequate frying temperature and deep fry the dough in batches to a golden color. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Enjoy.