Luqaimat (Middle Eastern Crunchy Doughnuts)
Luqaimat are middle eastern sweet fried dumplings that are crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Once fried, they are topped with date syrup and sesame seeds.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp fine salt
- 1 1/4 tsp instant yeast
- 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 1 cup date syrup
- 3 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a large bowl mix the all purpose flour with the cornstarch, sugar, salt, instant yeast and ground cardamom until smooth and combined.
- Cover with a plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature or in an "off" oven for 1 hour. The batter will almost double in size.
- Fill 1/3 of a saucepan with vegetable oil and place over medium heat. Heat until the oil reaches 350 degrees F.
- Give the batter a good stir. Fill a small bowl with some cold oil and set aside. Dip a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon in cold oil and then scoop the batter and drop into the hot oil. Repeat with a few more and fry 4 to 6 luqaimat at a time. Make sure to dip the spoon in cold oil every time. Stir them a few times while frying to make sure they fry evenly. Alternatively, you can transfer the batter to a plastic bag, cut a part of the corner and squeeze out the dough into the oil and cut it using scissors dipped in oil.
- Fry the luqaimat until they are golden brown on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, take the luqaimat out of the hot oil and into the bowl with date syrup. Toss them a few times so they are coated with date syrup.
- Arrange the luqaimat on a plate and top with sesame seeds. Serve warm.
Video
Notes
- Luqaimat are best served right away when they're fresh. The longer they sit, the softer they will get and will lose that signature crunchiness.
Nutrition
Calories: 151kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 75mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 0.3IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 2mg