Loukoumadas (a.k.a Lukaimat)

Lukaimat are small Middle Eastern bite size sweet dumplings. The literal translation of Lukaimat is 'bite size'. They are often served to guests with tea and made during the holy month of Ramadan. These little Lukaimat are dipped in a simple sugar syrup and can be topped with crushed nuts. For those who don't like sugar syrup, these little balls of love can be topped with Nutella, Date syrup or even powdered sugar.

The Lukaimat dough is so easy to make and comes together in minutes. It requires a resting time of 15 minutes. Just enough time to get the sugar syrup ready for dipping. So there's no time wasting.

Preparation Time 15 minutes plus 15 minutes rest time

Cook Time 15 minutes

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

1 cup flour

3/4 cup warm water - divided

1 tablespoon corn starch

1 tablespoon yeast

1/2 tablespoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon oil

For the simple syrup

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

a pinch of cardamom powder

a couple drops of yellow food colour

Instructions

1. Combine the 1/4 cup warm water with the yeast and sugar. Mix well. Set aside for 10 minutes.

2. Combine the flour, baking powder and corn starch in a bowl.

3. Gradually add the half a cup of warm water until a dough forms. The dough will be sticky.

4. Add the 1 tablespoon of oil. Mix well with a spatula.

5. Cover the dough with clingfilm and set aside for 15 minutes.

6. While the dough rests, make the sugar syrup by combining 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil. Add the cardamom powder and yellow food colour. Cook until sticky between the fingers. Set it aside.

7. Heat a frying pan with 2 inches of vegetable oil to 170c.

8. After resting the dough. Mix with a spatula again.

9. Fill a disposable piping bag with the dough. Cut a hole in the bottom.

10. Carefully squeeze out small amounts of the dough into the vegetable oil. Use scissors to cut the Lukaimat. Dip the scissors in the oil to prevent the dough from sticking to the scissors.

11. Fry the lukaimat on a medium heat until golden brown. Flip them halfway until golden.

12. Remove from the oil and blot on kitchen towel for 2 minutes. Then soak them in the sugar syrup for 1 minute.

13. After 1 minute remove the Lukaimat from the sugar syrup and serve warm and crispy. Serve immediately.

14. Top with crushed nuts or sesame seeds according to your preference.

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