Luqaimat (Crisp Fried Dumplings in Date Syrup)
Local name: لقيمات
In short: Bite-size yeasted dough balls fried until crisp and golden, then drizzled with date syrup and sprinkled with sesame seeds. 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
- Medium
- Calories
- 350 kcal
Luqaimat, meaning little bites, are the fried dumplings served at Ramadan gatherings and Eid in Bahrain. A soft, yeasted batter scented with cardamom and turmeric is dropped by the spoonful into hot oil and puffs into golden balls with a crisp shell and a soft center. They are drizzled with date syrup while still warm and finished with sesame. Eat them right away for the best crunch.
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, cornstarch, sugar, yeast, cardamom, turmeric and salt in a bowl. Add the warm water and beat for 2 minutes until you have a thick, smooth, sticky batter.
- Cover and leave for 1 hour in a warm place, until bubbly and almost doubled. Stir down gently.
- Heat the oil in a deep pot to 180°C (350°F).
- Scoop up a heaped teaspoon of batter and push it into the oil with a second spoon, or squeeze it out between your thumb and index finger. Fry 8 to 10 at a time for 2 to 3 minutes, turning, until deep golden.
- Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
- Stir the date syrup with the warm water and rose water. Drizzle over the hot luqaimat, toss gently, scatter with sesame and serve immediately.
Tips
- Keep the oil at 180°C (350°F). Cooler oil gives greasy dumplings and hotter oil browns them before the middle cooks. Wet your spoons so the batter slides off.
- Honey or saffron sugar syrup replace the date syrup. Serve the syrup on the side if you need to keep the dumplings crisp for longer.
Questions and answers
Why are my luqaimat not crisp?
The oil was too cool or the batter too thin. Keep the oil at 180°C (350°F), use a thick batter and serve right after drizzling.
Can I make the batter ahead?
Yes, cover and chill it overnight. Bring it to room temperature for 20 minutes, stir gently and fry.
Can I bake luqaimat?
Not successfully. Baking gives a bread-like texture, since the crisp shell comes from deep frying.
How long does it take to make Luqaimat (Crisp Fried Dumplings in Date Syrup)?
About 35 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Luqaimat (Crisp Fried Dumplings in Date Syrup)?
About 350 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 59 g of carbohydrates and 11 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 350 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 59 g |
| Fat | 11 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 21 g |
| Sodium | 220 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
