Fried Dough Balls in Honey-Lemon Syrup – Vegan version

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Sugar Syrup

1. 1
   Bring the water and date syrup to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer 5 minutes, until 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. 2
   Add the lemon juice, cinnamon and anise.

   💡The lemon keeps the sugar from crystallizing again.
3. 3
   Cool completely.

   💡Cold syrup on a hot pastry soaks in evenly.

To assemble

1. 4
   Mix the flour, yeast and sugar, add the water and oil and knead into a dough that is soft and sticky.
2. 5
   Cover and Let rise 45 minutes.

   ⚙ ProofingPlastic wraporKitchen towel
3. 6
   Heat the oil to 170°C (340°F) and dip a small spoon in oil, fill it with the dough and drop walnut-sized balls into the oil.

   ⚙ Deep-fryingStoveSlotted spoonCandy/oil thermometerDeep pot for frying

   💡Dip the spoon in oil before each ball: the batter slides off it into the oil in a round ball and doesn't smear.

   💡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.
4. 7
   Fry 3–4 minutes, until the dough browns, and drain.

   Stove
5. 8
   Dip immediately in the cold syrup for 30 seconds and serve.

   💡Hot zalabia in cold syrup: the temperature difference keeps it crisp outside, and it soaks up syrup without going soft.