Greek Donuts With Honey Recipes

LOUKOUMADES - GREEK HONEY BALLS (EASY HOMEMADE DONUTS)

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine all ingredients for the dough.
• Preheat oven to 45°C / 113 °F.
• Cover the bowl with a dampened tea towel and add in the oven.
• Turn off the heat and let the dough rise for about 30-45 minutes. Or leave it until the dough has tripled in size.
• Add plenty of frying oil in a pan and heat over high heat. Fill a glass with cold water and keep aside (use this water to dip your teaspoon in, after each time you're about to take a spoonful of the dough, see next step).
• Grab a handful of the dough, and squeeze it in order for it to get out at the top of your fist. With a teaspoon, scrape the excess dough (about a spoonful of a teaspoon) from the top of your fist and add it to the hot oil. Repeat this process to create as many donuts as you like.
• Cook for a minute or two on each side until they get a deep golden color. Use two forks in order to flip them. NOTE: Make sure they're not overcrowded in the pan.
• Using a skimmer transfer the donuts on paper towels to drain excess oil.
• Sprinkle with lots of honey, icing sugar, cinnamon, walnuts, or any other topping of your liking.
• Don't forget to eat them while they're warm otherwise they get spongy when they're cold.

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 - 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.

GREEK DOUGHNUTS WITH WALNUT HONEY

Steps:

• For the doughnuts: In a mixing bowl, add the yeast to 1 cup warm water, mix with a fork and let sit for 5 minutes. Add the flour, milk, sugar, olive oil, zest and salt. Mix thoroughly until the batter is smooth, 2 minutes. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and rest the dough in a warm place for 1 hour.
• Preheat the deep fryer to 375 degrees F.
• Dip a tablespoon measure in water, and then scoop out 1 tablespoon of dough. Wet your hands and roll the dough into balls, about 16 total. Place the doughnuts, a few at a time, in the fryer and cook until golden, 2 to 3 minutes.
• For the honey: Place the honey, walnuts and 1/4 cup water in a pot set over medium heat for 3 minutes.
• Coat the doughnuts with the walnut honey to serve.

GREEK DONUTS WITH HONEY

Steps:

• For the donuts: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the warm water, yeast and pinch of the sugar and whisk to combine. Let stand until the yeast is very foamy, about 10 minutes.
• Next, add the flour, warm milk, olive oil, salt and remaining sugar and mix until a smooth batter forms, 2 to 3 minutes. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
• Set up your grill for even heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals evenly. If using a gas grill, heat both sides evenly.
• For the honey syrup: In the meantime, in a small saucepot on the grill, combine the honey, orange peels, orange juice, sugar, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Bring to a strong simmer and stir to dissolve the sugar. Simmer for 15 minutes, then remove from the heat and set aside.
• Heat 4 to 6 inches of canola oil to 350 degrees F.
• When the batter is ready, dip a small ice cream scoop into the hot oil to coat, then scoop some of the batter out. Drop into the hot oil and repeat until the donuts are frying comfortably in an even layer. You may need to do this in 2 to 3 batches depending on the size of your pot so you do not overcrowd the pot. Fry until golden brown on all sides and puffed, about 2 minutes per side, using a spoon to flip them. Remove to a draining rack and repeat with the remaining batter.
• After the donuts have drained of excess oil, transfer them to a serving platter. Pour the honey syrup all over and sprinkle with the pistachios.

LOUKOMADES (GREEK DONUTS WITH HONEY & CINNAMON)

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in the warm water with the sugar, about 10 minutes.
• Beat the eggs and add them to the yeast mixture, gradually adding the flour and salt, beating well.
• Cover and let rise for 2 hours.
• Heat some canola or vegetable oil to about 375F in a skillet or deep fryer, and drop the risen dough by the tablespoon-full into the oil. Turn it often to brown evenly.
• Dip each donut in the warmed honey and sprinkle with cinnamon.