Chinese crullers (youtiao)

A very quick and easy recipe to follow, especially for such a comforting dish.

Here is an easy recipe for yao til, or youtiao (Chinese crullers) that you can try:

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour – 1 ½ cups
• Active dry yeast – ½ teaspoon
• Warm water – ¾ cup, plus extra for adjusting
• Caster sugar – 1 tablespoon
• Vegetable oil, for frying

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and yeast. Add the warm water and sugar, and mix until it forms a shaggy dough. If the dough is too dry, add a little bit more warm water, one tablespoon at a time, until it comes together.

2. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes, or until it becomes smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about an hour, or until doubled in size.

3. Punch down the dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a long rope, about 12 inches long. Stretch and pull the rope gently to make it thinner and longer.

4. Heat the vegetable oil in a large wok or pot over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully stretch each rope of dough and twist it once in the middle. Gently pick up the dough and stretch it slightly again before carefully lowering it into the hot oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown.

5. Drain the youtiao on paper towels and serve immediately. You can enjoy them plain, or dip them in soy milk or congee.

Tips:

• Make sure the oil is not too hot, otherwise the youtiao will brown too quickly on the outside and be raw on the inside.
• If the dough is too sticky, add a little bit more flour, one tablespoon at a time, until it becomes less sticky.
• You can also use a rolling pin to roll out the dough instead of rolling it with your hands.

I hope this helps!