Fried Bake Recipes

TRINIDAD FRIED BAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, add flour, salt, sugar and baking powder. Rub in butter (if using). Mix well.
• While gradually adding water, knead to make a very soft, smooth dough, about 3 minutes--not too long. Do not fold over and please try to use ALL the water called for in the recipe. It's better to have a sticky dough that you can add a pinch of flour to, rather than a stiff, dry dough.
• Form into a large ball(or two) and cover with a wet paper towel. Let it rest for about 15-30 minutes. You can refrigerate for several hours or overnight. This helps to create a fluffier result.
• Divide dough into small "golf" balls. On a lightly-floured surface flatten (1/4 inch) using hands or rolling pin. If you roll it out too thin, your bakes will be stiff and hard. (See other option below-"How to make triangles").
• Pour oil into a frying pan on medium heat.
• Working in batches, fry the dough disks, turning once, until golden brown and puffed, about 30 seconds per side. Continuously pour oil on bakes to help it to rise. Always flip bakes as soon as it puffs up and has a golden color. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bakes to a paper towel-lined plate. Overcooking will also make the bakes stiff.

FRY BAKES(CARIBBEAN-SAINT LUCIA)

Steps:

• Add all ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with dough attachment, OR you can do this by hand.
• Mix until a soft dough forms.
• If you can stand to wait thirty minutes to an hour, let the dough rest and rise. If you can't wait, these bake up great even if you cook them right away. But they do become rather lovely little plump pillows once they do puff up.
• Right before cooking, pat them down into relatively thin discs (about 1/4 inch thick).
• Fry in a 1/4 inch of oil on both sides until puffy, browned, and cooked through. Try your heat set to medium and this should be about perfect. You might need to play around with your temperature to get it to cook through on the inside before the outside gets too dark.
• Note:.
• You could eat them straightforward, or with a lot of icing sugar or you can put raisins, dried currants, little pieces of apple, etc. in the dough before frying for a nice variation.

BAKED FRENCH FRIES I

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
• Cut potato into thick wedges. Mix olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder and onion powder together. Coat potatoes with oil-spice mixture and place on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven, turning once or twice, until golden brown and crispy, about 45 minutes.

FRIED BAKES OR FLOATS

Steps:

• Using a sieve over a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add the butter and, using your fingertips, work it into the flour mixture to form pea-sized pieces. While stirring with a wooden spoon, slowly add water in a stream, until the flour starts to leave the sides of the bowl. When dough is soft, but not sticky, transfer it to a lightly floured work surface.
• Knead the dough, divide and roll the dough into small balls the size of golf balls. Cover the dough balls with a damp paper towel, covered by a regular kitchen towel, and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Knead the dough balls for a second time until smooth and soft to the touch, and let rest, covered again with the 2 towels, about 10 minutes more.
• Using a rolling pin, roll each dough ball into a 4-inch disk
• Pour the oil into a wok to a depth of 2 inches. Place the pot over medium heat and heat until a deep-fry thermometer reads 375 degrees F. Working in batches, fry the dough disks, turning once, until golden brown and puffed, about 30 seconds per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bakes to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve with Trinidadian dal, rice, and bhaji, or your favorite stew or casserole.