Beignets
Beignets are a traditional pastry from New Orleans, Louisiana. They are square-shaped fried doughnuts that are typically covered in powdered sugar. They are made from a yeasted dough that is rolled out, cut into squares, and deep-fried until they are golden brown.
New Orleans-style beignets are served hot, with the powdered sugar generously dusted on top. They are typically served as a breakfast or dessert item, and they can be enjoyed on their own or with a cup of café au lait, which is a traditional coffee drink made with equal parts of brewed coffee and steamed milk.
Beignets are a staple of New Orleans cuisine and culture. They are a popular item at cafes and restaurants in the city and can be found at the famous Cafe Du Monde, which has been serving beignets and café au lait since 1862.
Beignets are a rich, sweet and a comforting delicacy, the perfect balance between a soft and doughy interior and a crispy exterior. The powdered sugar on top gives a nice sweetness and texture to the pastry. They are perfect to have with coffee, tea or even hot chocolate on a cold winter evening.
Here is a recipe for making traditional New Orleans-style beignets at home:
Ingredients:
- 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees F)
- 3/4 cup lukewarm milk
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- Vegetable oil for deep-frying
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Let stand for about 5 minutes or until the mixture becomes frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk, sugar, salt, and egg. Stir in the yeast mixture.
- Slowly add the flour, 1 cup at a time, and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5 minutes or until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
- Use a pizza cutter or a knife to cut the dough into 2-inch squares.
- In a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot, heat the oil to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C).
- Carefully add the squares of dough to the hot oil, a few at a time, and fry them for about 2 minutes or until they are golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to remove the beignets from the oil and drain them on paper towels.
- Dust the beignets with powdered sugar while they are still warm.
- Serve the beignets hot, with a cup of café au lait or your preferred hot beverage.
Enjoy your homemade New Orleans-style beignets!
Tips for preparation of Beignets
Here is a recipe for making traditional New Orleans-style beignets at home:
Ingredients:
- 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees F)
- 3/4 cup lukewarm milk
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- Vegetable oil for deep-frying
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Let stand for about 5 minutes or until the mixture becomes frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk, sugar, salt, and egg. Stir in the yeast mixture.
- Slowly add the flour, 1 cup at a time, and mix until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5 minutes or until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/4 inch.
- Use a pizza cutter or a knife to cut the dough into 2-inch squares.
- In a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot, heat the oil to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C).
- Carefully add the squares of dough to the hot oil, a few at a time, and fry them for about 2 minutes or until they are golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to remove the beignets from the oil and drain them on paper towels.
- Dust the beignets with powdered sugar while they are still warm.
- Serve the beignets hot, with a cup of café au lait or your preferred hot beverage.
Enjoy your homemade New Orleans-style beignets!
Beignets serving size
The recommended serving size for New Orleans-style beignets can vary depending on the specific event or occasion, and the person’s appetite. A traditional serving size for beignets is three to four beignets per person, often served as a breakfast or dessert item. Beignets are quite rich and sweet, so even with a smaller serving size, they can be quite filling.
When serving beignets as part of a meal, it is typical to serve 3-4 per person, but if they are served as a dessert or a snack you could serve 2-3 per person. It is also important to note that these recommendations are general, and may vary depending on the specific context and the person’s appetite. It’s always good to consider individual needs and preferences, and make sure you have enough beignets to feed everyone.
Beignets nutrition value
The nutritional values of a standard serving size of New Orleans-style beignets can vary depending on the specific recipe and ingredients used, as well as the serving size. However, here is an approximate nutritional breakdown for a standard serving size of 3 beignets, which is based on the assumption that the beignets are made with the following ingredients:
- 3 oz all-purpose flour
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup milk
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
- Powdered sugar (for dusting)
For a standard serving size of 3 beignets:
- Calories: 780
- Fat: 63 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Sugars: 16 g
- Protein: 7 g
Keep in mind that these nutritional values are approximate, and can vary depending on the specific recipe and ingredients used, as well as the serving size. Also, it’s worth noting that these nutritional values are for plain beignets without any additional ingredients. If you’re adding any toppings or condiments, these will also add additional calories, fats, and sugar to the beignet.
It’s important to consider these values as a guide rather than strict rule, and to take into account the ingredients, recipe, serving size, and personal dietary needs when making or consuming beignets. As with any other meal, it’s important to balance consuming beignets with a balanced diet and physical activity.