Loukomades Greek Honey Balls Food

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.

GUY'S HONEY BALLZ: LOUKOMADES

Steps:

• For the dough: Combine all the dough ingredients in large mixing bowl. Mix until well combined. Transfer the dough to another large oiled mixing bowl. Cover and let the rise until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• For the honey sauce: In medium pot, bring the water to a boil over medium heat and add the sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Simmer the mixture for 45 minutes, then add the honey and cook for 5 more minutes. Set aside until ready to use.
• For the topping: Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and reserve.
• Heat a few inches of oil in a deep-fryer over high heat.
• Use a tablespoon to form 1/2-inch diameter balls of dough.
• Add the dough balls to the deep-fryer and fry until cooked through and golden brown. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels. Transfer the fried dough balls to a serving platter. Drizzle with honey sauce and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar.

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.

LOUKOUMADES (GREEK HONEY DUMPLINGS)

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water.
• Put it along with the remaining dough ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix well until a smooth batter is obtained.
• Cover and let the batter rise in a warm place until it is approximately three times its previous bulk, (1-2 hours).
• Heat the oil for frying in a saucepan on the stove until very hot.
• Dip a teaspoon into oil to coat and spoon out some dough into the hot oil.
• Repeat until there are enough fritters to comfortably fill the surface area of the saucepan, without overcrowding.
• Dip the spoon in oil, every time the dough starts to stick on it.
• Fry loukoumades in very hot oil until golden brown, pushing them into the oil with a slotted spoon and transfer to a serving dish lined with kitchen paper for them to drain.
• Keep making more fritters in this way.
• When done, put them on a large platter and pour hot honey syrup over them and lightly dust with cinnamon.
• Sprinkle them with chopped walnuts and sesame seeds.
• Serve immediately.
• To make honey syrup.
• Heat honey and water in a small saucepan and skim off any froth that may form on top.
• Boil for 5 minutes together and pour over fritters.

LOUKOMADES (GREEK HONEY BALLS)

Steps:

• Mix ingredients all together.
• Drop a teaspoon at a time in hot vegetable oil until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towel, and serve with maple syrup or honey. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and cinnamon.