Mekitsi (Bulgarian Fried Yogurt Dough)
Local name: Мекици
In short: Puffy golden fried dough made with yogurt and flour, eaten hot with powdered sugar, jam or crumbled sirene cheese for breakfast. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 40 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 315 kcal
Mekitsi are puffy, golden fried breads that Bulgarians eat for breakfast or weekend brunch. The soft dough is made with yogurt and a little yeast, which makes the pieces blister and puff in hot oil and leaves a chewy, airy center. They are eaten warm, either sweet with powdered sugar or jam, or savory with crumbled sirene. Stretch the dough gently with oiled hands and fry in small batches.
Instructions
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the yogurt, egg, water and 1 tbsp oil and stir to a soft, sticky dough.
- Knead for 5 minutes on a lightly oiled counter until smooth. The dough should stay soft and slightly tacky.
- Cover the bowl and leave the dough for 40 minutes, until puffy and about one and a half times its size.
- Oil your hands and the counter. Divide the dough into 16 pieces of about 55 g each.
- Stretch each piece with oiled fingers into an oval about 10 cm (4 in) long and 5 mm (1/4 in) thick.
- Heat the frying oil in a deep skillet to 180°C (350°F). Fry 3 or 4 pieces at a time for 1 to 2 minutes per side until puffed and deep golden.
- Drain on paper towels and serve warm with powdered sugar, jam or crumbled sirene.
Tips
- Oiled hands handle the sticky dough better than extra flour, which makes mekitsi dense.
- Keep the oil at 180°C (350°F) and fry in small batches. If the oil is too cool, the dough soaks up grease, and if it is too hot the outside burns before the center is cooked.
Questions and answers
Can I make mekitsi dough ahead?
Yes. After kneading, refrigerate the covered dough overnight. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before shaping and frying.
What do you eat with mekitsi?
Both sweet and savory toppings are common: powdered sugar, jam or honey, or crumbled sirene, sometimes with a fried egg on the side.
Can I bake mekitsi instead of frying them?
You can bake them at 220°C (425°F) for about 10 minutes, but they turn out more like flatbread and puff much less.
How long does it take to make Mekitsi (Bulgarian Fried Yogurt Dough)?
About 50 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Mekitsi (Bulgarian Fried Yogurt Dough)?
About 315 kcal per serving, with 9 g of protein, 49 g of carbohydrates and 9 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 315 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 49 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 330 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
