Luqaimat

About This Recipe

Luqaimat are bite-sized fried dough balls with a perfectly crispy exterior and pillowy centre. Soaked in date syrup and sprinkled with sesame seeds, they are a fixture at Ramadan gatherings, street markets, and coffee houses across the UAE.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 1.5 cupsplain flour
• 1 tspinstant yeast
• 1 cupwarm water
• oilfor deep frying
• 4 tbspdate syrup (dibs)

Instructions

1. 1

   Make batter

   Whisk flour, yeast, and a pinch of salt together. Add warm water gradually to form a smooth, thick batter. Cover and rest 30 minutes until slightly puffed.

2. 2

   Heat oil

   Heat deep oil to 175 °C.

3. 3

   Fry

   Drop teaspoon-sized portions of batter into the oil. Fry in batches for 3–4 minutes, turning, until deep golden all over. Drain on paper towels.

4. 4

   Serve

   Pile onto a plate, drizzle generously with date syrup, and scatter sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately.

Variations

• •

  Drizzle with honey instead of date syrup.

• •

  Add a pinch of cardamom to the batter.

Storage

Best eaten fresh. Leftovers can be re-crisped in an air fryer for 2 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions