Though it has its origins in North America, fried dough recipe, is immensely popular all over the world today. It is quite easy to make this recipe, and it is extremely tasty. It is known by different names in different places. Sometimes, the way the fried bread is cut, or the method it is prepared decides its name.

Fry dough, fry bread, elephant ears, doughboys, fried bread, etc., are some names given to fried dough. In some places, fried dough is also known as touton, langos, kiachi, oliebol, etc.

Fried Dough Recipe Origin

The origin of this dish dates back to the early 19^th century when the Navajo tribal people had first made it. Though the basic preparations remain the same in almost all the places, some restaurants use unique regional variations to make their fried dough stand out from the other versions. Usually, this recipe is found in most of the stalls during country fairs, carnivals, etc.

The best part of fried dough is making it in any shape you want and cutting it in the design you want. You can use any topping of your choice for this dough.

While some people prefer a generous dollop of butter on top, some like the sweetened version of the fried dough better. In that case, they can use maple syrup or powdered sugar as toppings. So, as you can see, it is a very simple recipe that can be personalized as per your tastes and preferences.

You can make any shape you like with this fried dough recipe!

Some tips for Fried Dough Recipe

• After frying the dough, you can also make a sugar syrup by heating water and sugar in a pan. When the sugar has dissolved completely, keep heating the mixture on a low flame, until it turns slightly thick. At this stage, gently drop the fried dough pieces into the syrup and cook for a minute before switching off. Kids and adults will enjoy these sugar syrup-coated fried dough pieces very much.
• If you have added salted butter to the all-purpose flour when making the dough, you can cut down on the salt that you add. Ensure that the butter must be cold and soft when you are adding it to the dough. You can skip the butter and add margarine as well to make the dough. This will not alter the taste of the fried dough.
• Always use lukewarm water only when preparing the dough. This will ensure that you get a soft dough, eventually. Also, while adding water, please remember to add little by little, so that the mixture doesn’t become too watery.
• When rolling the dough, ensure that you roll them very thin. This way, you can fry them evenly, without any problems. When the dough rolls are very thick, they take a long time to fry. The outer sides of the rolls turn dark brown, whereas the insides remain chewy. This can affect the taste of the final dish.
• When using dry toppings (such as granulated sugar, icing sugar, etc.) allow the fried dough rolls to cool down well before you coat them. This will ensure that the slices remain crisp for a longer time.
• You can prepare the dough beforehand, and make the snack in a jiffy when guests arrive at a place. This dough stays good in the refrigerator for about 4 to 5 days. The only thing you should remember is that the dough should be at room temperature when you are about to fry the rolls. It is best to enjoy these rolls on the same day they are made to relish their freshness and crispiness.
• If you haven’t made the dough beforehand, but still want to make this recipe within minutes, you can also use store-bought pizza dough for this recipe.

Let us see how to make fried dough easily at home in the following sections.

Pin the image below if you like this fried dough recipe!

How to Make the Best Fried Dough

It takes about an hour to make this recipe, and the following ingredients are good enough for about 8 servings.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour – 2 cups
• Baking Powder – 2 teaspoons
• Salt –¾ teaspoon
• Unsalted butter – 2 tablespoons
• Water – ¾ cup (preferably lukewarm)
• Oil – 2 cups

Instructions

• In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt.
• Add butter to this mixture and blend the contents well. It would be great if you could use a blender for this step.
• Now, add the lukewarm water little by little into the bowl and mix all the contents to form a smooth dough. Cover the bowl, and leave the dough to get set well for about 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, open the lid, and cut the soft dough into 8 pieces. Take one piece and make a thin roll from it. Repeat the step for the other 8 pieces.
• Now, your dough is ready, and you should prepare the oil for frying the dough. In a heavy-bottomed pan, pour about 2 cups of oil and heat it on medium-high flame. Once the oil is heated well, check the temperature by dropping a small piece of dough in the oil. If the dough leaves bubbles and rises to the top of the surface, the oil is hot enough for you to fry the dough. Alternatively, you can also use a thermometer to check if the oil has become hot enough for frying. The oil is ready to be used when it reaches a temperature of 375 degrees F.
• Now, drop the dough rolls that you have made into the oil, one by one. Let one side of the roll puff up well and rise to the top, before you flip it over and cook the other side as well. Take the roll once both sides have turned light brown. Repeat this step for the other discs as well.
• Place the fried rolls on a paper towel to drain out the oil from them.
• Fried dough rolls are now ready. It is now time for you to personalize it as you want. You can use granulated sugar, salted butter, maple syrup, cider syrup, cinnamon sugar and any other topping of your choice over these fried dough discs, and enjoy them instantly.

So what do the Eastern states miss apart from “In-N-Out” burgers? The famous boiling crab. It’s so hard to resist eating with your bare fingers like a savage. And this Boiling Crab Shrimp Copycat Recipe will take you straight to Boiling Crab.

Now, for anyone who does not know this Western fast food chain, Boiling Crab specializes in all kinds of shellfish in a remarkable blend of Southern seasonings, lemon, butter, and garlic.

You order your portion in pounds and get to choose between a good range of dips and side dishes. You will then get your order in a plastic bag, and once this hits the table, the devouring starts.

Boiling Crab Shrimp Copycat Recipe

It’s time to make this fantastic Shrimp copycat recipe from Boiling Crab. Once you make it you’ll see just how easy it is and you’ll want to make it all the time. 

Ingredients

• 4 lbs./2kg shrimps (or other crustaceans),
• 3 heads garlic, peeled and minced,
• 4 sticks butter (unsalted),
• 4 tbsp old bay seasoning,
• 2 tbsp paprika,
• 2 tbsp cayenne pepper,
• 2 tbsp lemon or black pepper,
• 2 tbsp hot sauce (preferably Louisiana),
• 2 tbsp white sugar,

Extra Ingredients (optional):

• 2 ears of corn
• 2 chorizo sausages, sliced
• 1 ½ tbsp Louisiana sauce
• 2 limes (or one per person)
• Salt-Pepper

For The Fries

• 4 small potatoes
• 1 tsp old bay seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic salt

Other utensils:

• 1-gallon food storage bags
• Masking paper, newspaper, or single-use tablecloth

Instructions

1. Preparing the Pot:

• Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil.

2. Prep Work:

• Chop potatoes into medium fry sticks.
• Halve lemons.
• Finely slice chorizo.
• Process garlic in a food processor.

3. Making The Shabang Sauce:

• In a small bowl, mix Old Bay seasoning, cayenne, and lemon pepper.
• Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
• Combine minced garlic with mixed seasonings.
• Cook garlic for a few minutes, then stir in Louisiana sauce and sugar.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer.

4. Cooking Shrimp and Sides:

• Add halved lemon to boiling water.
• Cook shrimp in batches for 2-3 minutes each. Avoid overcooking.
• Use the same water to cook corn and chorizo if desired.

5. Preparing Fries:

• Deep fry potato sticks at 400°F (200°C) until golden.
• Toss fries with Old Bay seasoning and garlic salt.

6. Assembling the Bags:

• Distribute shrimp, corn, and chorizo into individual gallon-sized storage bags.
• Divide Shabang Sauce evenly among the bags.
• Seal bags and toss to mix.

7. Serving:

• Cover dining table with newspaper or a single-use tablecloth.
• Provide small bowls for individual seasoning with limes, salt, and pepper.
• Once ready, dive in and enjoy!

8. Clean-up:

• Roll up the used papers and dispose of them for easy clean-up.

Enjoy your Boiling Crab-style shrimp feast!

Pin the image below if you like this Boiling Crab Shrimp Copycat Recipe!

If you’ve liked this recipe be sure to check this Seafood Boil Sauce with Garlic butter!

This Homemade Beef Tapa Filipino Recipe is an authentic dish that has its origin in the Philippines. Tapa is usually made from cured and dried meat. Though beef is most commonly used for making tapa, other dishes like mutton, horse meat, and venison are also used to make this lovely dish. It is the main course, prepared in a traditional way in the Philippines.

Thin strips of beef (or any other meat) are first cured with salt and spices before they undergo a conventional preservation method to prepare delicious tapas. It can be served with rice, fried eggs, ketchup, sliced tomatoes, or any other side dish you want.

Tapa, or Thapa, in the Filipino dialect, means “smoked.” In the earlier days, tapa was usually made from smoked fish. Only later, other types of meat were used for making this dish. Today, beef tapa is one of the most-loved dishes (besides this famous Filipino chicken adobo) by people all over the world, and this dish has brought Filipino cuisine to the limelight indeed!

Beef Tapa Filipino Recipe

Ok, it’s time to make another fantastic Filipino dish, so gather the ingredients, and let’s start with Beff Tapa Recipe!

Ingredients:

1. Soy Sauce – ½ cup
2. Calamansi Juice – ¼ cup
3. Garlic – 1 head, peeled and crushed
4. Sugar – 2 tablespoons
5. Salt – ½ teaspoon
6. Freshly Ground Pepper – ¼ teaspoon
7. Beef Sirloin – 3 pounds (cut into very thin slices)
8. Canola Oil – as needed for cooking

Instructions:

1. Preparing the Marinade:
   • In a large mixing bowl, combine the following ingredients: ½ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup calamansi juice, crushed garlic (about 1 head), 2 tablespoons sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper.
   • Stir the mixture thoroughly until the sugar and salt dissolve completely.
2. Marinating the Beef:
   • Add the thin slices of beef sirloin (3 pounds) to the bowl. Ensure each slice is evenly coated with the marinade.
   • Cover the bowl and refrigerate it for 8 to 10 hours. This duration allows the beef to properly absorb the flavors.
3. Cooking the Beef:
   • After marinating, remove the beef from the refrigerator. Drain any excess marinade from the meat.
   • Place a pan on the stove and heat it over medium heat. Lightly coat the pan with 1-2 tablespoons of canola oil.
   • Add the marinated beef to the hot pan. Cook the beef for approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Frequently turn the slices to ensure even cooking and wait until the liquid in the pan is fully absorbed.
   • Continue cooking until the beef slices turn golden brown.
4. Serving:
   • Once the beef slices are golden brown, turn off the stove.
   • Serve the cooked beef with traditional Filipino side dishes such as sinangag (garlic fried rice) and itlog (fried egg) for an authentic experience.

Love this Filipino Beef Tapa Recipe? Show your support and save it to your Pinterest board for others to discover! Just pin the image below – it’s that easy and means a lot!

Tips for Cooking Beef Tapa the perfect way

• To ensure that the spices seep into the meat well and the beef cooks well, you should always make very thin slices of the meat. Filipino cooking experts recommend freezing the meat for 10 to 15 minutes to make thin slices easily.
• You don’t have to stick only to the ingredients mentioned here. You can use your creativity with the ingredients available in your area. For example, if you cannot find calamansi juice in a store near you, don’t worry. You can always substitute it with lemon juice, vinegar, or wine.
• While marinating the beef in the refrigerator, it is highly recommended that you only do so for about 8 to 10 hours. Marinating the meat for a long time will take away the taste of the beef because the protein fibers will lose their natural taste.
• Beef tapa tastes awesome when you use sirloin or the tender cut of the meat. These will cook in about 5 minutes. However, if you are not able to find sirloin, you can also use tougher cuts of meat. After marinating the tough cuts of meat, you can cook them with a bit of water to allow them to turn soft and tender. Once they turn tender, you can cook the meat with oil and switch off the stove when it turns golden brown.
• The best way to serve this beef tapa is with garlic fried rice and sunny-side-up eggs. This combination makes for a wholesome breakfast option.

Some changes you can try with beef tapa

• For the marinating ingredients, you can use ¼ cup of coconut sugar, two tablespoons of fish sauce, one tablespoon of tamarind soy sauce, and ½ teaspoon of baking soda, along with the usual calamansi juice and soy sauce. With these ingredients, you may marinate the beef for about 5 to 6 hours.
• Though beef tapa is a Philippines-based dish, you can also add/delete certain ingredients to make it belong to your country. For example, to make it a Thai-based curry, you can mix certain authentic Thai ingredients like two tablespoons of lemongrass, one teaspoon of kaafir lime leaves, and two tablespoons of coriander roots to the normal marinating elements to make delicious beef tapas. It is enough for these ingredients to keep the meat marinated for about 4 hours. While serving, don’t forget to serve beef tapa with pickled cucumber.
• To make Japan-based beef tapa, the unique marinating ingredients you can use are equal measures (about ¾ cups each) of Japanese soy sauce, Japanese sweet rice wine, and cooking sake, one teaspoon of butter, and four teaspoons of special Japanese chili powder. Mix all the ingredients with the thin slices of beef and marinate them for about 3 to 4 hours before frying them as usual and serving the tapa with rice and eggs.

As you can see, as long as you take care of the beef cuts and the marinating time, you can make fantastic Filipino beef tapas. This dish requires a lot of time only for the marinating spices to seep in. You can cook the tapas in minutes if the meat is marinated well. Ensure you always choose the right type of beef cut to make delicious beef tapa.