Sweet Potato Buneulos Recipes

BUNUELOS

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine eggs with 1/4 cup sugar and beat until thick and lemon-colored. Add the oil. Combine separately 1-1/2 cups of the flour, the baking powder and the salt. Gradually add this to the egg mixture and beat well.
• Turn dough out onto a floured board (use remaining 1/2 cup flour) and knead thoroughly until dough is smooth.
• Shape dough into sixteen balls. Roll each one into a circle about 5 inches in diameter. Let stand uncovered on waxed paper for about 10 minutes.
• Heat oil in a deep fry pan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fry circles until golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Store airtight.

BUñUELOS

Steps:

• Put the yucca, malanga, and boniato into a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until tender, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the sugar, cinnamon, and star anise into a medium saucepan and stir in 3 cups water until the sugar dissolves. Set over medium low heat and simmer until syrupy and golden, about 40 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool.
• Transfer the yucca, malanga, and boniato and 1/2 cup of their cooking liquid to a large mixing bowl. Mash with a potato masher or fork until smooth. When the mixture has cooled, stir in the aniseed, salt, and eggs. Using a wooden spoon, stir in the flour, adding more as necessary, until a moldable dough is formed.
• Divide the dough in half, then roll each piece into a long snake, 1 inch in diameter. Cut each snake into 7-inch lengths and form each piece into a figure eight, pinching the ends and center shut.
• Put about 3 inches of oil in a deep saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (a pinch of the dough sizzles, but not violently). Gently drop the figure eights into the oil and fry, turning once, until golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Work in batches, taking care not to crowd the fritters. Drain on paper towels, drizzle with the syrup, and serve immediately.
• Omit the spicy sugar syrup; sprinkle confectioners' sugar or a mixture of 3 tablespoons sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon over the buñuelos.

MEXICAN BUñUELOS WITH PILONCILLO SYRUP

Steps:

• Make the piloncillo syrup: In a medium saucepan, heat 1 cup/240 milliliters water and the piloncillo over medium-high until the piloncillo dissolves, the liquid has thickened slightly and is caramel-colored, about 5 minutes. Carefully add 2 1/2 cups/600 milliliters water to the pan, along with the cinnamon stick, guavas (if using), anise seeds and orange peel. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until syrupy, about 30 minutes. If you'd like it thicker, cook for a bit longer. Strain the syrup into a small bowl and set it aside. (You should have about 1 1/4 cups/60 milliliters.)
• Make the buñuelos: In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Form a well in the center and add the egg, melted butter and vanilla extract. Using a wooden spoon or your hands, stir the ingredients together until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Slowly add the warm water, 1 tablespoon/15 milliliters at a time, constantly mixing then kneading, until the dough is soft and smooth. (You may not need all of the water.) Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough into 12 small balls and cover with the kitchen towel. (At this point, you can wrap the balls tightly with plastic wrap and freeze for up to two months. Bring to room temperature before rolling out and frying.)
• In a large, high-sided skillet, pour the vegetable oil until it's about 3/4-inch high and heat over medium high to 350 degrees. When the oil is ready, a small piece of dough should sizzle immediately when dropped in.
• While the oil is heating, roll out the dough: Work with one ball at a time, and leave the others covered while you work. On a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a paper-thin 8-inch circle. (It should be almost transparent but not tear.) As you roll, move and flip the dough and add more flour as necessary so it doesn't stick. Set aside on a lightly floured surface. Repeat with the remaining balls.
• Fry the buñuelos, one at a time, until golden brown and crispy, 20 to 40 seconds per side. Use tongs to gently flatten the dough as it cooks to help prevent it from curling. Place the fried buñuelos on a paper towel-lined plate. Immediately sprinkle the buñuelos with granulated sugar, drizzle the syrup and serve. (Store leftovers in an airtight plastic container at room temperature for up to three days. Recrisp in a 300-degree oven for 5 minutes and sprinkle with granulated sugar.)