Bambalouni (Tunisian Fried Doughnuts)
Local name: بمبلوني
In short: Puffy, golden Tunisian doughnuts of soft yeasted dough fried in hot oil and dusted with sugar or drizzled with honey, a favorite street snack. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 1 h 15 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 410 kcal
Bambalouni are the doughnuts of Tunisian beach towns and street corners, sold hot in paper bags and eaten with sugar or honey. The yeasted dough is soft and sticky, stretched into discs and fried until puffed and golden with a chewy center. They are best within minutes of leaving the oil. At home they make a good weekend breakfast or a treat for a crowd.
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the olive oil, orange blossom water and lukewarm water and mix into a soft, sticky dough. Knead for 8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Cover the bowl and leave the dough in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled in size.
- Tip the dough onto a lightly oiled surface, divide it into 12 pieces and roll them into balls. Cover and rest for 15 minutes.
- Heat the frying oil in a wide, deep pot to 175°C (350°F).
- With oiled fingers, stretch each ball into a flat disc about 10 cm (4 in) wide. Fry 2 or 3 at a time for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until puffed and deep golden.
- Drain on paper towels, dust with sugar or drizzle with honey and serve hot.
Tips
- Oil your hands and the work surface instead of flouring them. Extra flour toughens the dough and burns in the oil.
- Test the oil with a small piece of dough. It should rise within a few seconds with steady bubbles. If the doughnuts brown fast but stay raw inside, lower the heat.
Questions and answers
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes. After the first rise, refrigerate the dough overnight in an oiled bowl, then shape it and let it rest for 30 minutes before frying.
Are bambalouni the same as regular doughnuts?
They are simpler: a plain yeasted dough with no filling or glaze, served with sugar or honey. The texture is chewier and lighter than a ring doughnut.
Can I bake bambalouni instead of frying?
They will turn into soft rolls rather than doughnuts. If you want to try, bake the discs at 200°C (400°F) for 12 to 15 minutes and brush with honey.
How long does it take to make Bambalouni (Tunisian Fried Doughnuts)?
About 50 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Bambalouni (Tunisian Fried Doughnuts)?
About 410 kcal per serving, with 7 g of protein, 68 g of carbohydrates and 12 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 410 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 68 g |
| Fat | 12 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 16 g |
| Sodium | 190 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
