Fat Tuesday. A day dedicated to being a glutton. What could be better?
Um, not much else.
In honor of this day of outrageous, pre-Lenten debauchery I inched out of my comfort zone and prepared a traditional French Quarter treat: beignets.
Why was this outside my comfort zone? Well, I don’t do much deep frying as a rule, and what little frying I’ve done has been with vegetables and chicken. You know, stuff that’s normally healthy. Fried dough was really not far behind, I suppose.
Boy oh boy was I happy with these. My guinea pig, aka Rob, was thrilled to bits that I kept forcing him to test them out. I quote: “How often do you shove doughnuts at me and tell me to eat them?”
This recipe is a modified version of Paula Deen’s – because I’d use anyone else’s recipe when it comes to fried food. Puh-lease.
Homemade Beignets
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 envelope active dry yeast
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup evaporated milk
7 cups bread flour (I used all-purpose)
1/4 cup shortening (I used unsalted butter)
Oil, for deep-frying
Confectioners’ sugar
In a large bowl (the bowl of a stand mixer if you have one), dissolve the sugar and yeast in the lukewarm water. Cover and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Mixture should be frothy.
In a separate bowl, mix the eggs and evaporated milk. Add this to the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add in 3 cups of flour and salt and mix using paddle attachment. Switch out to dough hook. Add rest of flour and shortening. Mix until dough forms and pulls away from sides of bowl, then knead for a few minutes until dough is smooth.
Shape dough into a ball and place in a greased bowl (turn dough to coat). Allow to rise in a warm place for 2 hours.
Once dough has risen, punch down and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out to 1/4″ thickness and cut into pieces – I cut into much larger pieces than 1-inch squares although this is what was instructed. Heat oil to 350 degrees and fry dough squares until puffed and golden brown.
Drain beignets on paper towels and immediately toss with powdered sugar or sift powdered sugar on top.
See how puffy and light they are? Scrumptious. And yes, it was I who took a bite in order to give you a cross-sectional view of the finished product. I’m all about bringing my beautiful readers into the kitchen with me.
I just give and give to you guys, don’t I?
Now make up some beignets – or just go eat a lot of doughnuts without guilt! – and enjoy the heck out of your Fat Tuesday. I know that’s what I’ll be doing.
Have you ever eaten beignets? Do you think this is something you’d like to try yourself? How do you celebrate Fat Tuesday?
Sharing with A Southern Fairytale , Skip To My Lou, All The Small Stuff, Balancing Beauty & Bedlam, Designs by Gollum, Simply Sweet Home, Tidy Mom & 504 Main. Check it – there are so many creative peeps out there!
Oh my gosh! Those look AMAZING! yum!
oh dear lord those look delicious…and terribly bad for my diet but oh-so-good!
I made beignets once! They were delicious! I was denied them on my only trip to New Orleans, so I’m glad I could recreate them.
These look ridiculously good.
We ate these non-stop when we stayed in Disney at the French Quarter Hotel (I think that was the name of the hotel). Theyw ere delicious there and I’m sure these will be too.
Oh my…that is like porn for girls who like carbs!!!!! *um…me**
They look delicious!!!!!
Yeah, for me too!
Oh, so jealous. I was totally going to make these yesterday while I had the oil going for fish & chips, but didn’t have any evaporated milk. I would mug someone for a bag of these right now.
YUM! I could use one of those right now for breakfast. They look delicious, thanks for sharing the recipe!
I tried biegnets for the first time on New Year’s Eve. They are delicious! Have you ever made savory ones? I’d love to find a recipe for those too!
Actually, I had never heard of a savory version before. Now you’ve got me thinking! Any ideas?
Oh my gosh those look amazing. I’ve never tried beignets before but you are certainly making me want to!
Do you know that your photos make these irresistible?!
You made me so happy with this comment – thank you!
Wow! Jenn, these look fantastic! There is just something about fried dough/batter that is simply delicious. Those look so fluffy and light. Yummy. PS- Thanks for taking one for the team and taking that bite so we could all get a view of the light airiness
I’m a giver, Katie. It’s what I do
I’m making these for my Fat Tuesday party tonight. Thank you!
I hope you love them!
I’ve only ever heard of these because of the Disney movie, The Princess and the Frog. I think just because of that, these would be a big hit in this house.
Stop, woman.
YOU are seriously killing me.
Do you know that since I have found you, I have QUIT Pdub’s place?
I kid you not.
You bring the yummy. xo
You flatter me!!! Granted, I love it, but still…
I love, love, love beignets. You have tempted me sorely!
Cheers,
Kim @ Incandescent Blue Flame
(hopped to this post from the Foodie Wednesday Blog Hop at Daily Organized Chaos)
I am here to tempt you. It’s my job.
Good grief, those look amazing. People in my home state call these things scones but why? Why do they call them this wrong thing? No one will tell me.
In what strange parallel universe do you live?
I have always known scones to be more dense.
I made these on Tuesday and they were wonderful. If I’d had more powdered sugar on hand, I would have been right back at Cafue du Monde.
Thank you
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe and that they turned out well – I’m sure you made magic happen!
Those look absolutely delectable!! OMG!! I want one …NOW!!!
Hehehe I have to say I think you’d enjoy them!
Time consuming but whooooa delicious!
Okay, you are killing me! Three winners in a row! First you make HOMEMADE pudding (this is the order I read them in),then you hear from God and now debachery and gluttony? Okay, I’m a new follower. I can’t wait to see what is next… jello shooters and matzo?
Yvonne
LOL you are TOO funny! I’m glad you approve, though.
These look so light and fluffy, I think I’d eat the entire batch.
I’m hosting a weekly link up, Sweet Tooth Friday, and I’d love to have you share your recipe. http://alli-n-son.com/2011/03/10/vanilla-donuts/
Um,YUM! Where was I Tuesday? Can I still eat these today!?!
We’re headed to New Orleans tomorrow, and beignets are on my “to-do” list!
These look like I could eat a dozen of them without blinking an eye! Thanks for posting the recipe.
Oh my goodness, those look so delicious! I am also really impressed with your food photography. It is not always easy to make food look that good!
I love beignets and have never had the chance to make them. Your photos make me want to get up in the morning and make a batch!
These look so sinful. I’m sure I would eat all of them myselves. Yum!
Oh these little devilish things…so yummy. I have never tried to make them myself. Thanks for the recipe.
[...] is good, but popcorn chicken is excellent. And fried dough rolled in powdered sugar, aka beignets? Pretty much so-good-you-could-die amazing. So really, is it so unthinkable that pickles would be [...]
As always I’m late to the game but I just came back from a road trip that took me to Savannah — I had beignets at the famous “Huey’s” — mmm, can’t get them out of my head. Thanks for the recipe!