Crullers Recipes

FRENCH CRULLERS

Steps:

• 1. Place the water, butter, sugar, and salt in a heavy-bottomed pot and bring to a brisk boil over medium high heat. Add the flour and stir with a wooden spoon until the flour is completely incorporated. Continue to cook and stir for 3 to 4 minutes to steam away as much water as possible. The more moisture you can remove, the more eggs you can add later and the lighter your pastry will be. The mixture is ready when a thin film coats the bottom of the pan.
• 2. Move the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Although you can mix the pâte à choux by hand, this can be rather arduous, so use a mixer if you have one. Stir the mixture for about 1 minute to allow it to cool. Then mix on medium speed and add the first egg. Let it mix in completely and then scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the remaining eggs, one at a time, and mix in completely. Add the egg whites, a little at a time, until the paste becomes smooth and glossy and will hold a slight peak when pinched with your fingers. Be careful not to add too much egg white or your crullers will become heavy. Transfer the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star piping tip.
• 3. To fry the crullers, heat at least 2 inches of oil in a heavy-bottomed pot until a deep-fat thermometer registers 370°F. While the oil is heating, cut out twelve 3-by-3-inch squares of parchment paper and lightly grease them. Pipe a ring onto each square. When the oil is hot, place one cruller at a time in the oil, paper side up. Remove the paper with tongs. Fry on each side until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel for at least 1 minute. Once cool to the touch, the crullers can be glazed.
• Crullers also bake very well, although they will have slightly firmer crusts than the fried versions. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pipe the crullers onto it, at least 2 inches apart. Bake for 5 minutes, then reduce heat to 350°F and bake for another 15 minutes. Turn off the heat, open the oven door slightly and let the crullers sit in the cooling oven for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove, dip in glaze, and cool on a rack until the glaze has set.
• Beignets, the classic New Orleans fried dough treats, use this same batter and are even easier to prepare. Simply drop rounded teaspoonfuls of the batter into the oil. As the dough puffs, the beignets will turn themselves over-but keep an eye on them and flip any that need a little help.

CONGEE WITH CHINESE CRULLERS & SAUTEED GREENS

Steps:

• Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sweat the shallot and ginger, stirring, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the rice and broth. Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and cover. Cook until the rice has broken down and the mixture is thick and porridge-like, about 1 hour. Stir with a rubber spatula occasionally so the bottom doesn't stick. Remove the ginger and season to taste.
• Divide the congee into bowls. Top with a pile of Sauteed Greens (recipe follows), a drizzle of toasted sesame oil, a drizzle of sriracha and a couple turns of black pepper. Serve with Crullers (recipe follows) on the side.
• Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl. Add the buttermilk, coconut oil and egg and knead with the dough hook for 7 to 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Wrap with plastic and allow to rest in the refrigerator for 3 hours.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator 1 hour before ready to use and allow to come to room temperature.
• Heat the neutral oil in a heavy bottomed pot to 375 degrees F.
• Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a 20-by-6-inch rectangle that is about 1/4-inch thick. Cut into 12 vertical strips just over an inch wide, then cut each strip in half horizontally. Layer one half on top of the other and using a chopstick, press down in the center to adhere. Cover with plastic while you shape the others.
• When the oil is up to temperature, take one piece of dough and, holding both ends, stretch gently to triple the length (it should stretch very easily). Drop in the oil and fry for 30 seconds to 1 minute per side, or until lightly golden and puffy, gently turning with a spider. Remove to a rack and repeat in batches of 2 or 3, allowing oil to come back to temperature between each batch.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the dried chili peppers and garlic and toss around, cooking until fragrant and lightly toasty, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the mustard greens, a big pinch of salt and a couple turns of black pepper and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until wilted, tender, and bright green. Add the sesame oil, rice vinegar and sesame seeds. Toss to combine.

ORANGE-GLAZED CRULLERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Beat in milk, butter, eggs, sugar, salt and 2 cups of flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and refrigerate overnight. , Punch dough down; divide in half. Return one portion to the refrigerator. On a floured surface, roll out second portion into an 18x9-in. rectangle; cut width-wise into 3/4-in. strips. Fold each strip in half lengthwise and twist several times. Pinch the ends to seal. , Place on greased baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover and let rise until almost doubled, about 35-45 minutes. , In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry crullers, a few at a time, about 1 minute on each side or until golden brown, turning with a slotted spoon. Drain on paper towels. In a small bowl, combine glaze ingredients; brush over warm crullers.