Fry Jacks (Belizean Puffed Fried Dough for Breakfast)
In short: Triangles of rolled baking powder dough that puff into golden, hollow pillows in hot oil, served at breakfast with refried beans or jam. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 20 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 375 kcal
Fry jacks are the Belizean breakfast bread. A plain dough of flour, baking powder, salt and a little shortening is rested, rolled thin and cut into triangles, which balloon in hot oil into crisp, hollow pillows with a soft, steamy center. They are served hot with refried beans, or with jam for something sweet, and they are best eaten within minutes of leaving the pan.
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Rub in the shortening with your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse sand.
- Add the warm water gradually, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 3 to 4 minutes, until smooth. Cover and rest for 20 minutes.
- Divide the dough into 4 equal balls. Roll each into a thin round about 3 mm (1/8 in) thick, then cut each round into 4 triangles.
- Pour the oil into a deep, wide pan to a depth of about 5 cm (2 in) and heat it to 180°C (350°F).
- Fry 3 or 4 triangles at a time. They sink, then rise and begin to puff. Spoon hot oil over the tops to help them inflate and fry for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden.
- Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve right away, while crisp and hollow.
Tips
- Roll the dough thin and even. Thick or uneven triangles will not puff, and they turn dense in the middle.
- Hold the oil at 180°C (350°F). Cooler oil makes greasy, flat triangles, and hotter oil browns them before they have time to puff.
Questions and answers
What is a fry jack?
A fry jack is a Belizean breakfast bread made by frying thin triangles of plain dough until they puff into hollow, golden pillows. It is crisp outside and soft inside, and it is eaten like toast or split open and filled.
Can I prepare fry jacks ahead of time?
You can make the dough up to 4 hours ahead and keep it covered in the fridge. Roll and fry just before serving, because the puff fades and the texture turns chewy within about an hour.
What do you serve with fry jacks?
Common partners are refried beans, fried plantains, avocado, jam and fresh fruit. Some cooks split a hot fry jack and fill it like a pocket. Jam turns them into a sweet breakfast.
How long does it take to make Fry Jacks (Belizean Puffed Fried Dough for Breakfast)?
About 40 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Fry Jacks (Belizean Puffed Fried Dough for Breakfast)?
About 375 kcal per serving, with 6 g of protein, 48 g of carbohydrates and 17 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 375 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 48 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 370 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
