New Orleans Beignets

You don't have to live in the South to enjoy Southern food. Let's face it, they know how to eat down there! Deep-fried goodness, yummy jambalaya, it's hard not to drool just thinking about it. Now you can bring a part of the South to your kitchen with this easy New Orleans Beignet recipe. These fritters have a long history in New Orleans and have been linked to Mardi Gras since the 16th century!

Check out the recipe below in honor of Paula Morris's new book, Ruined. Be sure to check out the interview with the author and see if you really belong in the South!

New Orleans Beignets

Ingredients

-1 package dry yeast

-1/2 cups warm water

-1/2 cup sugar

-1 tsp salt

-2 eggs

-1 cup evaporated milk

-7 cups flour

-1/4 cup shortening

-Powdered sugar

-Vegetable oil, for deep frying

Directions

1. In a large bowl, add the yeast to the warm water and stir to dissolve.

2. Add the sugar, salt, beaten eggs, and evaporated milk and blend with whisk or electric mixer.

3. Add 4 cups of the flour and continue to mix.

4. Add shortening.

5. Blend in the remaining flour.

6. Form dough into a ball by molding over a flour work surface.

7. Cover the dough in a bowl and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.

8. Roll out dough over flour work surface to 1/8" thickness.

9. Cut into squares about 2 1/2 to 3"

10. Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer to 360 degrees F and place squares in (hint: if the beignets don’t rise to the top immediately when you drop them into the oil, the oil needs to be heated more).

11. Fry 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly browned on each side.

12. Drain on paper towels.

13. Sprinkle generously with powdered sugar.

14. Serve hot and enjoy!

Have you ever tried beignets?

xoxo,

Colleen