Tis’ the season for traditional Loukoumades

According to Greek tradition, Loukoumades are made over the Christmas period and served on special Feast Days, as during the 40 days of Nativity Lent there are many Saint Days that are commemorated in the Greek Orthodox Calendar, including Agios Andreas, Agia Aikaterini, Agios Stylianos, and Agia Varvara.

Loukoumades are little bite-sized honey puffs, which are deep-fried to golden and crispy perfection. They are served soaked in hot honey syrup and sprinkled with cinnamon.

As they are lent friendly, they are made and given to guests as a lovely and sweet gesture for Name Days celebrated over the Festive Season.

Here is our traditional homemade Loukoumades recipe for you to try-

Ingredients

-450g x plain flour

-2 x teaspoons salt

-2 x cup lukewarm water

-15 x grams dried yeast

-4 x tablespoons olive oil

-Olive oil for frying

Syrup

-1 x cup sugar
-½ x cup honey
-½ x cup water

Method

-Sift the flour into a large bowl, add salt, and mix the dried yeast into the flour.

-Using the lukewarm water, slowly add to the flour, mixing with an electric mixer until all the water has been added and the mixture is smooth.

-Cover with a clean tea towel and leave it in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.

-To deep fry the donuts, you can use a deep-fryer or a deep pan. Fill with olive oil and heat.

-Take a teaspoon, dipping it in water first to prevent the mixture sticking, then take a teaspoon of mixture and drop it in the hot oil. Fill up your fry pan and continue until all the batter has been made

-The Loukoumades will puff up and rise to the top of the oil very quickly. Turn them over and as they turn golden, take them out with a slotted spoon and place on some paper.

-To make the syrup, add all the ingredients into a small saucepan, bringing to the boil and simmer on medium heat for about 5 minutes or until slightly thickened. Keep warm to serve with the donuts.

-Pour syrup over Loukoumades and serve warm drizzled with extra honey and sprinkled with cinnamon.