Cardamom Doughnut Holes

Description

Source: MALAI - POOJA BAVISHI

I’m a big, big fan of eating hot and cold together. Biting into something steamy and then immediately cooling it off with frozen creaminess—there is nothing better. So this is my ideal dessert: fresh, hot doughnut holes paired with cool ice cream. It’s a quick and easy recipe that tastes like a five-star dessert. The doughnut holes get an extra sparkle from a quick roll in cardamom sugar.

Ingredients

• Neutral oil, such as grapeseed, for frying
• ½ cup plus 3 tablespoons granulated cane sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tablespoons baking powder
• 1 cup whole milk
• ¼ cup plain whole-milk yogurt
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• Masala Chai Ice Cream, for serving

Directions

1. Place a wire rack on a sheet pan.
2. Pour oil to a depth of 1 inch into a large, deep sauté pan or wide, shallow pot and heat over medium heat to 350°F.
3. While the oil is heating, in a small bowl, stir together ½ cup of the sugar, the cardamom, and ¼ teaspoon of the salt.
4. Set aside.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt.
6. In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, yogurt, and butter until blended.
7. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and stir to form a thick, smooth batter.
8. When the oil is ready, using a 1-inch cookie scoop, drop balls of the batter into the hot oil, frying about 4 balls in each batch.
9. The doughnut holes will expand to about 1 ½ inches, so be careful not to crowd the pan.
10. Fry the doughnut holes on the first side for 2–3 minutes, then flip them over and fry for another 2 minutes.
11. The balls will turn a deep brown on the outside, and that’s fine.
12. It is important to fry them until the center is cooked through.
13. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the doughnut holes to the wire rack to drain briefly, then roll in the cardamom sugar, coating them on all sides.
14. Repeat with the remaining batter.
15. Serve the doughnut holes immediately with a scoop of ice cream alongside.

YIELD: MAKES 35–40 DOUGHNUT HOLES