Verhuny (Ukrainian Fried Dough Twists)
Local name: Вергуни
In short: Crisp, blistered strips of rich egg dough tied into twists, deep-fried until golden and dusted with powdered sugar. It takes about 1 h 10 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 1 h 10 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 245 kcal
Verhuny are fried dough twists, a crisp sweet that Ukrainian families make for holidays, weddings and country fairs. The dough is rich with egg yolks and sour cream and rolled very thin, so the pieces puff and blister in hot oil and turn crisp and light. A splash of vodka helps keep them crisp. Dusted with powdered sugar, they are eaten warm or cold and keep well for several days in a tin.
Instructions
- Whisk the yolks, egg, sour cream, sugar, vodka, vanilla and salt together. Add the flour and knead for 5 minutes into a firm, smooth dough. Wrap and rest for 30 minutes.
- Divide the dough into 4 pieces. Roll one piece at a time on a floured surface to about 2 mm (1/16 in) thick, keeping the others covered.
- Cut the dough into strips about 3 cm (1 1/4 in) wide and 12 cm (5 in) long. Cut a 4 cm (1.5 in) slit down the center of each strip, then pull one end through the slit to make a twist.
- Heat the oil to 175°C (350°F) in a deep, heavy pan.
- Fry the twists in small batches for 1 to 2 minutes, turning once, until golden and blistered. Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
- Cool for a few minutes, then pile onto a plate and dust generously with powdered sugar.
Tips
- Roll the dough as thin as you can, ideally 2 mm. Thin pieces blister and turn crisp instead of dense.
- Fry at 175°C (350°F) in small batches. Cooler oil makes the twists greasy, and hotter oil browns them before they cook through.
Questions and answers
Why is vodka added to the dough?
Alcohol evaporates quickly in hot oil, which makes the dough blister and crisp. You can use lemon juice instead.
How long do verhuny keep?
In an airtight tin they stay crisp for 5 days. Dust them with powdered sugar just before serving.
Can I bake verhuny instead of frying them?
You can bake them at 200°C (400°F) for 8 to 10 minutes, but they come out drier and harder than the fried version.
How long does it take to make Verhuny (Ukrainian Fried Dough Twists)?
About 1 h 10 min in total: 40 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Verhuny (Ukrainian Fried Dough Twists)?
About 245 kcal per serving, with 6 g of protein, 35 g of carbohydrates and 9 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 245 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 35 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Sodium | 85 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
