Loukoumathes (Greek)

Loukoumathes are fried dough balls drenched or drizzled in syrup, this recipe is Greek but you can find different recipes through out Europe and the Middle East.

1 ¾ (all purpose) flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/5 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons butter (melted)
1 tablespoon Olive oil
¼ teaspoon of cinnamon
Zest of 1 (small) orange
¼ teaspoon Vanilla
1 cup milk
1 egg (beated)



Easy syrup
1 ½ cups Sugar
1 ½ cups water
1 strip thinly pared orange rind
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Fancy Syrup
1 ¾ cup caster (superfine) sugar
½ cup clear honey
2 ½ cups water
2 strips thinly pared lemon rind
1 inch cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Topping
¼ cup finely chopped nuts (Wallnuts are a perfect match)

Oil for frying

Preheat 2 to 3 inches of oil (I use sunflower) in a frying pan.
Keep the oil on low until you're ready to fry your dough.

Sift flour, baking powder, sugar,salt, and cinnamon in a medium size bowl.
Melt butter and cool for approx 3 minutes, add your milk to your butter and set aside. Beat your egg with the orange zest.
Add your milk and egg mixture to your flour, mix until well blended but make sure not to overmix your batter. Drop small teaspoons full of batter into 2 to 3 inches of heated oil.

Syrup
Place sugar water and all your ingredients in a small heavy duty sauce pan, stir over low heat until all the sugar has dissolved. Bring to the boil, reduce heat and cook for a further 5 minutes or until the mixture has thickened slightly.

Note, if you're using honey, you will have to add it after the sugar has dissolved in the water (approx 5 min after)..


Drizzle or dip in syrup and top with chopped wallnuts....