Loukoumades: Happy National donut day!

They’re hot, fluffy and crisp, usually drizzled with honey and cinnamon or chopped walnuts, while in a more modern rendition they’re dipped in luscious melty chocolate. That's right we are talking about Loukoumades!

The ping pong-ball size mouthfuls are a favourite indulgent dessert among children and adults alike, food for the soul and as sticky as they are satisfying.

Loukoumades (Λουκουμάδες), the Greek rendition of a donut, are designed to fry you to the moon. 

The spherical fried donuts go back a long way, in fact all the way back to the start of the Olympic Games in 776 B.C. when victorious athletes were offered these doughy delights with a generous slathering of honey after their feats.

In celebration of National Doughnut Day, here is our homemade Loukoumades recipe for you to try:

Ingredients

• 450g plain flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups lukewarm water
• 15g dried yeast
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• Olive oil for frying

Syrup

• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup honey
• ½ cup water

How to make Loukoumades

1. Sift the flour into a large bowl, add salt, and mix the dried yeast into the flour.
2. 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.
3. Cover with a clean tea towel and leave it in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
4. To deep fry the 'puffs', you can use a deep-fryer or a deep pan. Fill with olive oil and heat.
5. 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. Continue until all the batter has been made
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Pour the syrup over the loukoumades and serve warm. Drizzle with extra honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. Alternatively, you can drizzle the loukoumades with melted chocolate.

Check out our other recipes here:

• Pasteli- Greek Honey Sesame Bars Recipe
• Kalitsounia- Cretan Cheese Pies Recipe
• Dolmades- Stuffed Vine Leaves Recipe
• Horta Vrasta- Greek Boiled Leafy Greens Recipe