Loukoumades!

Loukoumades is a traditional dessert here in Greece.

It is essentially a yeast dough which is fried and while warm, sprinkled with cinnamon and confectioner's sugar or drizzled with honey or chocolate.

They are rather easy to make, as long as you are patient!

Loukoumades

750gr all purpose flour

1 tbsp active dry yeast

warm water

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp sugar

syrup:

350gr honey

300gr sugar

220gr water

Sift the flour and mix in the salt, sugar and cinnamon.

Put it in a large bowl and make a hole in the middle.

Mix the yeast with a little warm water until it is dissolved and pour it in the hole in the flour.

Mix lightly and add a little more warm water until you have a sticky porridge like dough.

Use a hand whisk to mix all the ingredients very well.

Leave the dough in a warm place to rise and double in size. When little bubbles appear, it is ready. See the first picture? That's the idea.

Using a teaspoon, take little dough and drop it (carefully!!!!) into a deep pan with hot olive oil to fry. When the loukoumas is ready and golden brown remove it and place it on a plate, which is lined with kitchen paper towel, so that the excess oil is absorbed.

In the mean time, prepare the syrup (if you want to use it). Boil all the ingredients together, until thick and well, syrupy!

Put your loukoumades on a serving platter and drizzle with syrup, or just drizzle with some good golden honey, as I did!!

Nice golden brown colour!

Excuse the dark picture, but it was getting late and I just want you to see the honey.....

You can play around with the dough, the toppings, the flavors of the syrup. The possibilities are so many!
I like to add cinnamon in the dough, but you can omit that and dust a little on top.
Also, they are AMAZING with nutella on them!!!!
You can add chocolate chips in the dough or small pieces of fruit. Can you imagine apple bits in the dough and cinnamon with confectioner's sugar on top?

Seriously, you have got to try them.

Louise