Recipe Cafe Du Monde Beignets

CAFE DU MONDE BEIGNETS

Steps:

• Put the warm water into a large bowl, then sprinkle in the yeast and a couple teaspoons of the sugar and stir until thoroughly dissolved.
• Let proof for 10 minutes.
• Add the rest of the sugar, salt, eggs, and evaporated milk.
• Gradually stir in 4 cups of the flour and beat with a wooden spoon until smooth and thoroughly blended. I used my Kitchen Aid
• Beat in the shortening, then add the remaining flour, about 1/3 cup at a time, beating it in with a spoon until it becomes too stiff to stir, then working in the rest with your hands.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight in a greased bowl. (I didn't refrigerate)
• Roll the dough out onto a floured board or marble pastry surface to a thickness of 1/8 inch, then cut it into rectangles 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches with a sharp knife.
• Heat the oil in a deep fryer to 360 degrees F.
• Fry the beignets about 3 or 4 at a time until they are puffed out and golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per batch.
• Turn them over in the oil with tongs once or twice to get them evenly brown, since they rise to the surface of the oil as soon as they begin to puff out.
• After removing from oil put into a brown paper bag full of powdered sugar and shake to coat.
• Eat warm and fresh.
• Dough can be refrigerated for several days.

FOODCHANNEL EDITOR

Steps:

• 1 FOR THE BLUEBERRY SAUCE: Puree all ingredients in food processor until smooth. Strain through fine sieve into heavy medium saucepan. Season sauce to taste with more sugar, if necessary. Simmer sauce over medium-low heat until syrupy, about 20 minutes. 2 DO-AHEAD TIP:Sauce can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. 3 FOR THE BEIGNETS:Combine milk and yeast in large bowl; let stand until yeast dissolves, about 5 minutes. Whisk in sugar, eggs and melted butter. Add 3 cups flour and stir to form moist sticky dough. 4 Knead dough on floured work surface, incorporating flour as necessary, until dough is smooth and elastic, and no longer sticky, about 10 minutes. Form into ball. Lightly oil same large bowl; place dough in bowl. Cover with kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let dough rise until doubled in bulk, about 40 minutes. 5 Heat shortening in deep fryer to 325ºF. 6 Transfer dough to floured work surface. Punch dough down; cover with kitchen towel and let stand for about 15 minutes. Sprinkle dough with flour. Using rolling pin, roll out dough into 12-inch square. Using pizza cutter, trim edges slightly to form perfect square. Cut dough crosswise into 4 equal strips. Cut each strip into 6 pieces, forming 24 rectangles total. 7 Working in batches, fry dough rectangles in hot oil until golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Using slotted metal spoon, transfer beignets to paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. 8 Arrange 3 beignets on each of 8 plates. Ladle blueberry sauce over and around beignets. Generously sprinkle powdered sugar over beignets. Alternatively, place beignets on platter. Generously sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve blueberry sauce alongside.