:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/turkish-tulumba-dessert-recipe-4129256-hero-01-3f71db4da5004c70a2865c9cae3b4b38.jpg)
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
397 | Calories |
28g | Fat |
36g | Carbs |
2g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 25 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 397 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 28g | 36% |
Saturated Fat 3g | 14% |
Cholesterol 25mg | 8% |
Sodium 19mg | 1% |
Total Carbohydrate 36g | 13% |
Dietary Fiber 0g | 1% |
Total Sugars 25g | |
Protein 2g | |
Vitamin C 0mg | 0% |
Calcium 8mg | 1% |
Iron 1mg | 4% |
Potassium 25mg | 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. |
Tulumba tatlısı (too-LOOM-bah TAHT-luh-suh) is a crispy, syrupy, and ultra-sweet Turkish dessert composed of mini oblong balls of fried dough that are soaked in syrup. The dough contains starch and semolina, which keeps it light and crispy. A popular street food, it is prepared by vendors who fry it up fresh on the spot and serve it warm. You'll also find it served in many restaurants, and it's a beloved recipe to offer in big gatherings, from weddings to holiday celebrations, as it's both delicious and budget-friendly.
One of the most traditional Turkish recipes, this dessert has conquered palates all over the region, with variations on it found from Greece to Iran. Tulumba is a very technical dessert, but it is also achievable by the beginner cook as it mainly needs attention to detail and following the right order in the steps. If done correctly, this is a wonderful sweet dessert, so much so that you won't need more than a few little balls.
Don't rush or cut corners, and mainly, don't use oil that's too hot when frying the dough. It won't cook faster, and it might burn. The secret to classic tulumba lies in the temperature of the oil, so a food thermometer is a great tool to have when frying tulumba. When fried well, the puffy balls are cooked through, with a crunchy exterior and moist interior. To make this classic Turkish sweet at home, you'll need a pastry bag with a star tip and a deep skillet for frying.
Ingredients
For the Syrup:
-
3 1/2 cups water
-
3 cups sugar
-
1 tablespoon lemon juice
For the Dough:
-
2 cups water
-
2 tablespoons butter
-
2 tablespoons sugar
-
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
-
3 large eggs, room temperature
-
3 tablespoons semolina
-
2 tablespoons cornstarch
-
2 to 3 cups vegetable oil, for frying
-
1/2 cup ground pistachios, optional
Steps to Make It
Make the Syrup
-
Gather the ingredients.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
-
In a saucepan, stir the water and sugar together. Bring the mixture to a boil and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
-
Reduce the heat and let the syrup simmer gently for about 15 minutes. Add the lemon juice and simmer for 1 additional minute. Turn off the heat and let the syrup cool off.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
Make the Dough
-
In a large saucepan, add the water, butter, and sugar. Turn on the heat and stir continuously until the butter is melted.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
-
Stir in the flour using a wooden spoon until loose dough forms. When the dough begins to collect around the spoon, remove the pan from the heat.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
-
Carefully, break 1 egg at a time into the dough and stir each in vigorously with a wooden spoon. Work fast as the heat from the dough can quickly transform the eggs into scrambled eggs.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
-
Add the semolina and cornstarch, combining well.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
-
Transfer the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
Fry the Dough
-
Pour about 3 inches of vegetable oil into a deep frying pan and heat to 350 F, checking it with a thermometer.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
-
Once the oil is hot, squeeze out small lines of dough directly into the hot oil. Squeeze the dough and cut with a pair of kitchen scissors into 2-inch long tubes. Use a strainer or spoon to turn the pieces over and around so they brown evenly.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
-
When the tulumba are evenly browned, remove them from the oil and drain them on paper towels.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
-
Add them to the cool syrup and let them soak it up for a few minutes, draining them with a slotted spoon and placing them on a serving platter. Repeat the frying process until you've used all the dough.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
-
When serving, pour some extra syrup over the top. Garnish the tulumba with the optional ground nuts. Keep leftovers refrigerated for up to three days.
The Spruce Eats / Julia Hartbeck
-
Enjoy!
Recipe Tags: