Kala (Liberian Sweet Fried Dough Balls)
In short: Golden, airy balls of sweet yeast batter scented with nutmeg and fried until crisp outside and soft inside, a Liberian street snack and breakfast favorite. It takes about 35 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 300 kcal
Kala are the fried dough balls Liberians buy from roadside sellers and make at home for breakfast or an afternoon snack. A loose, sweet yeast batter is dropped into hot oil, where it puffs and turns deep gold, crisp outside and soft inside. They are eaten warm on their own, with hot pepper sauce on the side for those who like sweet and spicy together, or with tea.
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, sugar, yeast, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl. Pour in the warm water and whisk for 2 minutes into a thick, smooth, sticky batter.
- Cover the bowl with a cloth and leave it in a warm place for 1 hour, until the batter has doubled and is full of bubbles.
- Stir the batter gently once to deflate it. Heat the oil in a deep pan to 175°C (350°F).
- With a wet spoon or wet fingers, drop in golf-ball-size portions of batter, 6 to 8 at a time, without crowding the pan.
- Fry for 3 to 4 minutes, turning with a slotted spoon, until deep golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
- Serve warm, plain or rolled in a little sugar, with hot pepper sauce on the side if you like.
Tips
- For banana kala, mash 2 very ripe bananas and stir them into the batter, using 2 tbsp less water. They brown faster, so lower the heat slightly.
- If the balls are raw inside, the oil is too hot. If they soak up oil and turn greasy, it is too cool. Test with one ball first.
Questions and answers
Is kala the same as puff-puff?
They are very similar yeast-raised fried dough balls. Kala is often a little less sweet and is sometimes made with banana, while puff-puff recipes vary from country to country.
Can I make the batter ahead of time?
Mix it the night before and refrigerate it for a slow rise of up to 12 hours. Let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes and stir before frying.
Can I bake kala instead of frying?
Not with this batter, which is too loose. A stiffer yeast dough baked at 190°C (375°F) for 15 minutes makes soft rolls, but they will not be kala.
How long does it take to make Kala (Liberian Sweet Fried Dough Balls)?
About 35 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Kala (Liberian Sweet Fried Dough Balls)?
About 300 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 50 g of carbohydrates and 9 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 300 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 50 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Sodium | 190 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
