Priganice (Montenegrin Fried Dough with Honey and Cheese)
In short: Airy yeast dough fried until golden and puffed, then served warm with honey, jam or soft white cheese for a Montenegrin breakfast. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 410 kcal
Priganice are small, puffy rounds of yeast dough fried in oil until golden and crisp at the edges, and they are a favorite breakfast and snack across Montenegro. They are eaten warm, either sweet with honey or jam or savory with soft white cheese and kajmak. The dough is quick to mix and needs only an hour to rise, so a plate can be on the table before the coffee goes cold.
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the egg, warm milk and 1 tbsp oil and mix to a soft, slightly sticky dough. Knead in the bowl for 5 minutes with wet or oiled hands.
- Cover the bowl and leave it in a warm place for 1 hour, until doubled in size and bubbly.
- Heat the frying oil in a wide, deep pan to 175°C (350°F). Line a tray with paper towels.
- Dust the work surface with flour. With oiled hands, tear off pieces of dough about the size of a golf ball and stretch each into a flat round about 8 cm (3 in) across and 1 cm (1/2 in) thick.
- Fry 3 or 4 rounds at a time for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side, turning once, until puffed and deep golden. Drain on the paper towels and let the oil return to temperature between batches.
- Serve warm, drizzled with honey, spread with jam, or topped with soft white cheese and a spoonful of kajmak.
Tips
- Keep the oil at 170 to 175°C (340 to 350°F). If it is cooler the priganice turn greasy, and if it is hotter they brown before the inside cooks. A pinch of dough should sizzle and rise within a few seconds.
- They taste best within 20 minutes of frying. Reheat leftovers on a tray in a 180°C (350°F) oven for 5 minutes. Never leave hot oil unattended.
Questions and answers
What are priganice?
Priganice are small flat fritters of yeast dough fried in oil. In Montenegro they are eaten warm for breakfast or as a snack, sweet with honey or jam or savory with cheese.
Can I make the dough ahead?
Yes. After the first rise, cover the dough and refrigerate it overnight. Bring it to room temperature for 30 minutes, then shape and fry as usual.
Can I bake priganice instead of frying them?
You can bake the rounds at 200°C (400°F) for 12 to 15 minutes, but they turn out more like soft flatbread. Frying gives the crisp, puffed texture that defines priganice.
How long does it take to make Priganice (Montenegrin Fried Dough with Honey and Cheese)?
About 50 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Priganice (Montenegrin Fried Dough with Honey and Cheese)?
About 410 kcal per serving, with 10 g of protein, 58 g of carbohydrates and 17 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 410 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 10 g |
| Carbohydrates | 58 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Sodium | 550 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
