Boorsok (Kyrgyz Fried Dough Pillows)
Local name: Боорсок
In short: Small diamonds of yeast dough fried until puffed and golden, served warm with honey, jam or cream. The Kyrgyz welcome snack for every guest. It takes about 1 h 10 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 10 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 360 kcal
Boorsok are the fried dough pieces that Kyrgyz hosts pile high on a plate when guests arrive and for every celebration. The dough is soft and lightly enriched with milk, egg and butter, so the pieces puff in hot oil and turn crisp outside and airy inside. They are eaten with tea, honey, jam or a spoonful of clotted cream, and many families make hundreds for a wedding.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the warm milk, egg and melted butter and mix into a soft dough.
- Knead on a floured surface for 8 minutes until smooth and slightly tacky. Cover and let rise for 1 hour until doubled.
- Roll the dough out to 8 mm (1/3 in) thick. Cut into diamonds or squares about 5 cm (2 in) wide.
- Heat the oil in a deep, heavy pot to 175°C (350°F). It is hot enough when a scrap of dough rises and sizzles at once.
- Fry the pieces in batches, without crowding, for 2 to 3 minutes per side until puffed and deep golden.
- Drain on paper towels and serve warm with honey or jam.
Tips
- Keep the oil at 170 to 175°C (340 to 350°F). If it is too cool the boorsok soak up oil, and if it is too hot they brown before cooking through.
- For a salty version, leave out the sugar and serve the pieces with soup or tea. Both versions are common in Kyrgyzstan.
Questions and answers
How long do boorsok stay fresh?
They are best the same day, but they keep for 2 days in a covered container. Warm them in a low oven for 5 minutes to refresh.
Can I bake boorsok instead?
You can bake them at 200°C (400°F) for 15 minutes after brushing with oil. They will be less crisp and less puffed than fried ones.
What is the difference between boorsok and doughnuts?
Boorsok are not very sweet and have no filling or glaze. They are meant to be dipped in honey, jam or cream, or eaten salty with tea.
How long does it take to make Boorsok (Kyrgyz Fried Dough Pillows)?
About 1 h 10 min in total: 40 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Boorsok (Kyrgyz Fried Dough Pillows)?
About 360 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 52 g of carbohydrates and 13 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 360 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 52 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
