Moroccan zalabia — fried yeast-dough spirals dipped in date syrup and rose water syrup. A traditional festive dessert. Vegan version: Date syrup (silan).
Bring the sugar, water and date syrup to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer 10 minutes, until the sugar melts and the syrup thickens slightly.
⚙ SimmeringStove
💡A gentle simmer, not a boil: a hard boil dries the food out and clouds it, a slow simmer cooks it evenly.
2
Add the rose water.
3
Cool completely.
💡Cold syrup on a hot pastry soaks in evenly.
To assemble
4
Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the lukewarm water and wait 10 minutes.
5
Add the flour and salt and mix into a batter that is runny.
6
Cover and Let rise 1 hour.
⚙ ProofingPlastic wraporKitchen towel
7
Heat the oil to 175°C (345°F) and pour the batter into a piping bag and pipe spirals straight into the hot oil.
⚙ Deep-fryingStoveSlotted spoonCandy/oil thermometerDeep pot for fryingPiping bag
💡Keep the oil at 170–180°C (340–355°F): too cold, and the food soaks up oil; too hot, and it browns outside before the inside cooks. Without a thermometer, dip the tip of a wooden spoon in the oil: when medium bubbles form around it right away, the oil is hot enough.
💡Don't overload the oil: every piece that goes in cools it down. Fry one piece as a test, then the rest in several batches, and transfer to paper towels.
8
Fry 2–3 minutes per side, until the dough browns, and drain.
Stove
9
Dip immediately in the cold syrup for 1 minute and serve.
💡Hot zalabia in cold syrup: the temperature difference keeps it crisp outside, and it soaks up syrup without going soft.
377calories
4 gprotein
70 gcarbs
9 gfat
● protein 4%● carbs 74%● fat 21%
Per serving (149 g), of 8 servings
For the Sugar Syrup · To assemble ·
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Stove· 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Portable hot plate (one weaker burner) · Camping gas stove (One burner, outdoors) · Electric pressure cooker (multicooker) (One pot, no real shallow frying)
Deep pot for frying· Also works: Electric deep fryer (None) · Wok (Less oil, less stable)
Piping bag· Also works: Zip-top bag (Zip-top bag with a corner cut off, no tip)· 💡 Workaround, changes the dish: Spoon / teaspoon (regular) (With a spoon, uneven)
Slotted spoon· Also works: Spider strainer (None) · Tongs (For large pieces)
🧻 Consumables: Kitchen towel or Plastic wrap
Helps, not needed: Candy/oil thermometer
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