Loukoumades

Greek Honey Doughnuts

Loukoumades are the oldest kind of doughnut: spoonfuls of loose yeast batter dropped into hot oil, where they puff into crisp-shelled balls with almost nothing inside. They are drenched in honey while still hot, dusted with cinnamon and eaten at once.

Loukoumades with honey are named among the street sweets of Athens.

The Greek chef's recipe read makes a batter of 250 g of flour, a teaspoon of yeast and 200 ml of warm water with a little oil and honey, proves it for about an hour and a quarter, and fries spoonfuls at 170°C for 3 to 4 minutes.

Ingredients

For the batter

  • 250 g strong white or plain flour
  • 1 tsp fast-action dried yeast
  • 1 tsp caster sugar
  • A pinch of fine sea salt
  • 200 ml lukewarm water
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp honey

To cook and serve

  • About 1 litre sunflower oil, to deep-fry
  • 150 g Greek honey, warmed
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Chopped walnuts (optional)

Method

  1. Make the batter Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the water, oil and honey to make a thick, smooth, sticky batter. Cover and leave in a warm place for about 1 hour 15 minutes, until doubled and full of bubbles.
  2. Heat the oil Pour the oil into a deep, heavy saucepan so that it comes no more than a third of the way up the sides. Heat to 170°C.
  3. Fry Dip a teaspoon in a glass of water or oil. Take a small handful of batter, squeeze it up through your fist and scoop off a walnut-sized ball with the spoon, dropping it into the oil. Fry six to eight at a time for 3 to 4 minutes, turning, until evenly golden and crisp.
  4. Serve Drain on kitchen paper for a few seconds, pile on to a plate, pour over the warm honey and dust with cinnamon. Scatter with walnuts if using. Eat straight away.

Food safety

Deep-frying: never fill the pan more than a third full, never leave hot oil unattended, and keep children away. Let the oil cool completely before moving the pan.

The batter should be loose enough to drop from a spoon. A stiff dough makes heavy doughnuts.

They lose their crispness within minutes. Fry them as people are ready to eat.

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