Keke (Tongan Fried Doughnuts)
In short: Soft yeast doughnuts fried until golden and rolled in sugar while warm, a Tongan sweet that is made in big batches for sharing. It takes about 55 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 1 h 25 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 450 kcal
Keke are Tongan fried doughnuts, golden outside, soft inside and rolled in sugar while still warm. The yeast dough is shaped into balls, left to puff and fried until deep golden. They are made in big batches for sharing. Eat them the same day, when the outside is crisp and the center is pillowy.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt. Add the warm milk, egg and melted butter and knead for 8 minutes, until smooth and soft. Cover and let rise for 1 hour, until doubled.
- Punch down the dough and divide it into 16 pieces of about 50 g (1 3/4 oz). Roll each into a smooth ball and set on a floured tray. Cover and let rise for 25 minutes, until puffy.
- Heat the oil to 175°C (350°F) in a deep, heavy pot. Fry 4 doughnuts at a time for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes per side, until deep golden. Drain on paper towels.
- Roll the warm doughnuts in the sugar and serve at once.
Tips
- Keep the oil at 175°C (350°F). Cooler oil makes greasy doughnuts, and hotter oil browns the outside before the center cooks. Never leave hot oil unattended.
- Let the balls rise until they look puffy and hold a fingerprint for a second. Under-risen dough fries up dense.
Questions and answers
What are keke?
Keke are Tongan fried doughnuts made from a soft yeast dough, rolled in sugar and eaten warm.
Can I bake them instead?
You can bake the shaped balls at 190°C (375°F) for 15 minutes and brush with melted butter, then roll in sugar. They will be more like soft buns.
How do I keep them fresh?
They are best the same day. Store in a covered container for 1 day and warm for 5 minutes in a 160°C (325°F) oven.
How long does it take to make Keke (Tongan Fried Doughnuts)?
About 55 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Keke (Tongan Fried Doughnuts)?
About 450 kcal per serving, with 7 g of protein, 58 g of carbohydrates and 20 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 450 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 58 g |
| Fat | 20 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 24 g |
| Sodium | 180 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
