Sfenj (Moroccan Doughnuts)

Hanukkah means that Ron doesn't need to find an excuse to whip up a batch of sfenj.
These luscious doughnuts are crispy on the outside and very fluffy and airy on the inside.
They’re usually served dipped in sugar or honey, but we love to serve them with a saffron and cardamom syrup or a Ras el Hanout spiked syrup.
In morocco they are a street food eaten all year along,
but in the Jewish communities it was mostly a dish served for Hanukkah

Check out more recipes and pictures from our 2014 Hanukkah party

SUGAR SYRUP

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

5 cardamom pods + Pinch of saffron threads or 2 tsp Ras El Hanout or Kafe Hawaij

 

DOUGHNUTS

8 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons yeast

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon sugar

3 to 4 cups water

Canola oil, for frying

MAKE THE SUGAR SYRUP In a medium saucepan, combine all of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the syrup is the consistency of honey. (To test, place a few small plates in the freezer and drizzle a bit of the syrup on them throughout the cooking process.) Remove from the heat and let cool.

MAKE THE DOUGHNUTS In a large bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients. Add 3 1/2 cups of water and mix thoroughly; the dough should be loose and sticky and doesn’t need to hold its shape. Adjust the consistency if needed with the rest of the water. Cover the dough with cling plastic wrap and let rest for 30 minutes.

In the bowl, using your hands, fold the dough over onto itself few times. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes, or until it doubles in volume. In a deep pan, heat 3 inches high of canola oil.

Wet your hands and cut a piece of dough the size of 2 golf balls. With 2 fingers quickly make a hole in the center and stretch it a little to form a ring shape. Repeat to form the remaining doughnuts.

Immediately and gently put the doughnuts in the oil and fry over moderate heat until golden on both sides. Drain the doughnuts on paper towels.

Serve the sfinj immediately and let your guests drizzle them with the sugar syrup.


 
 

Kafe Hawaij recipes, Ras El Hanout recipes, baking, baked goods, donuts, desserts