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French Market Beignets

Source of Recipe

From "Southern Fried" by James Villas


Recipe Introduction

"For many, no trip to New Orleans is complete without a visit to the Café du Monde in the old French Market to eat beignets washed down with cups of strong chicory coffee, and without question these puffy doughnut-like fritters covered with confectioners' sugar are one of the most memorable fried Southern delicacies ever conceived. While the beignets are delicious by themselves, they're even more special and unusual as a dessert with crushed fresh fruit spooned over the top. Do be warned to maintain the temperature of the oil at 350° F; otherwise, the fritters could be greasy and soggy."

List of Ingredients

â—¦  3 cups all-purpose flour
â—¦  2 tablespoons baking powder
â—¦  ½ cup granulated sugar
â—¦  1 teaspoon salt
â—¦  1 cup whole milk
â—¦  1 cup water
â—¦  1 large egg
â—¦  Vegetable oil for deep frying
â—¦  Confectioners' sugar


Recipe

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, and salt and stir till well blended. In a small bowl, combine the milk, water, and egg and whisk till well blended. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones and stir till the batter is well blended and smooth.

In a deep fryer or deep, heavy skillet, heat about 2 inches of oil to 350° F on a deep-fat thermometer. Drop the batter by heaping teaspoons into the oil about ten at a time (never crowding the vessel), fry till puffy and golden brown on all sides, 6 to 7 minutes, turning once with a slotted spoon, and drain on paper towels.

Sprinkle the beignets generously with confectioners' sugar and serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes about 3 dozen small beignets