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The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving) | |
---|---|
51 | Calories |
4g | Fat |
3g | Carbs |
1g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 28 to 32 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 51 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 4g | 5% |
Saturated Fat 2g | 11% |
Cholesterol 34mg | 11% |
Sodium 55mg | 2% |
Total Carbohydrate 3g | 1% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 1% |
Protein 1g | |
Calcium 11mg | 1% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
This easy, yeast-free beignet recipe is a snap to throw together the morning after your Mardi Gras celebration. For added atmosphere, do as they do at the famed Cafe Du Monde, and add a steaming mug of black chicory-coffee brew or a serving of cafe au lait for a complete breakfast.
While you will see many recipes for beignets that use a yeast dough, making them with choux pastry dough is also traditional. Choux is the familiar dough used in cream puffs and eclairs. It is made only with butter, water, flour, and eggs and the moisture in it allows it to rise without the need for yeast. This is what makes this the easy version of beignets since there is no waiting on the yeast and you can make them on the spur of the moment.
You can use a deep fryer or a pan that is deep enough for the oil to fry the beignets. A deep fryer should allow setting the temperature, but you will need to use a thermometer if using a pan.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 eggs
- 3 cups oil (or amount needed for deep frying)
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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In a medium saucepan, melt the butter in the water over medium-high heat.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Add salt and flour, and quickly stir until a sticky batter is formed. Remove from heat.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until the batter is smooth.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Heat oil to 375 F.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Fry mounded teaspoons of dough, several at a time, for about 6 minutes or until light, golden brown on each side. Don't crowd the fryer; ensure each beignet has plenty of room to move around. They may flip over by themselves, or you can use a slotted spoon to flip them so they cook evenly on all sides.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Drain the beignets for a few minutes on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
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Dust with powdered sugar. Serve warm and enjoy!
The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Tips
- When cooking them in several batches, ensure the oil comes back up to temperature before starting the next batch.
- For less of a mess, put the powdered sugar in a bag, add the beignets, and shake the bag gently to coat them.
What Is a Beignet?
Beignet is a French term that means bump and it originally meant fritters made with choux pastry, as in this version. So while you may wonder whether you should really be taking the time to make a yeast dough, this is an authentic version. This pastry was enshrined as the official state doughnut of Louisiana in 1986, even though it has no hole. Beignets have been a traditional food for Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday or the day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday) in both France and New Orleans. They're often served for breakfast, dessert, or a coffee or tea time snack.
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