Ancient Greek Loukoumades Recipe | Traditional Greek doughnuts (2024)

FAQs

What are Greek donuts made of? ›

Although there may be a few versions, loukoumades are made from loose yeast dough, deep fried, and doused in honey, sugar syrup, or even plain. Sometimes they're sprinkled with walnuts, pistachios, or sesame seeds. Sounds good so far, right? This dough is made with flour, sugar, yeast, and lemon zest.

Loukoumades have a long history that dates back to the first Olympic Games. Greeks revered the Gods, and the reward was in the form of “honey tokens,” which were pieces of fried dough dusted with honey. Al-Baghdadi first identified the dish as luqmat al-qdi in the 13th century.

loukoumades pl (plural only) Pastries made of deep-fried dough soaked in sugar syrup or honey and cinnamon, and sometimes sprinkled with sesame. ( used especially of the Greek version of these pastries) quotations ▼

Essentially they are loose yeast dough, deep fried, and drizzled in honey, sugar syrup, or even plain. What do loukoumades taste like? They are fried and sweet, but not too sweet. That's why I love them!

The original lukumádes (dough balls), which we know since our childhood years, are freshly fried in an open-kitchen, right in front of the house, being served in the ideal warming temperature.

History. Loukoumades where served to the winners of the Ancient Greek olympics. Luqmat al-Qadi, was first made in the early medieval period and the 13th-century Abbasid Caliphate. It is mentioned in several of the existent cook books of the time.

From ancient times to oil balls in the USA

However, the doughnut as we know it today is thought to have come from Dutch immigrants who took their tradition of making “olykoeks”, or “oil cakes,” to America in the 17th century.

Poor families ate oak acorns (βάλανοι balanoi). Olives were a common appetizer. In the cities, fresh vegetables were expensive, and therefore, the poorer city dwellers had to make do with dried vegetables.

Greece. The dish called loukoumádes (λουκουμάδες) is a mainstay of Greek cooking, in particular in the south of Greece, and is a popular street food served with any combination of honey, cinnamon, walnuts and chocolate sauce.

However, in Greece, they consider that loukoumades date back to ancient times. Some even claim it is one of the oldest desserts in the world. The Greek poet Callimachus mentions that the winners at the Olympics were honoured with “honey tokens”, or deep-fried dough balls with honey.

What is the Greece word for milk? ›

The Greek name for the Milky way (Γαλαξίας Galaxias) is derived from the word for milk (γάλα, gala).

Loukoumades (pr. Lou-kou-MAH-dhess) or Lokmades (lock-MAH-dhess), as they are called in Cyprus, are Greek doughnuts. What is this? They take their name from the Arabic words “luqma(t) plural luqūm”, lokma and lokum or loukoumi, meaning morsel or mouthful.

Traditionally, loukoumades are a celebratory treat. Mainly eaten at weddings, panigiria (traditional church festivals celebrating Orthodox saints) and on special occasions, they are usually served as a portion of anything from 4 to 6 pieces of deep-fried dough, then doused in honey and sprinkled in cinnamon.

The flavors of Greek cuisine can range from sweet (think honey-soaked pastries) to savory (like roasted lamb), salty (feta cheese) to tangy (lemon juice). Herbs are used widely throughout Greece's dishes, adding subtle aromas and nuances of flavor.

Perhaps most notably, fasnachts are crafted using potatoes – sometimes mashed, sometimes boiled and blended into dough – while donuts typically have wheat flour as the base carbohydrate. As a result, fasnachts are also generally a bit heavier and denser than your typical donut and not quite as sweet.

The physical structure of the doughnut is created by the combination of flour, leavening agent, sugar, eggs, salt, water, shortening, milk solids, and additional components. The most important ingredients for creating the dough network are the flour and eggs.

The difference between these and a basic doughnut is that paczki are made with a very rich, sweet yeast dough consisting of eggs, butter and milk. Sort of like a brioche doughnut, only better, if you can imagine!

A Recipe for Perfect Yeast Doughnuts

Heat milk until lukewarm, add yeast, and stir. Allow the mixture to sit until the yeast is bubbling. Beat the yeast mixture with the eggs, sugar, butter, and salt. Slowly add the flour and mix until the dough cleanly pulls away from the sides of the bowl.