Sonhos (a bit like doughnuts)
Sonhos might be served anywhere throughout Portugal
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Ingredients: For the pastry: |
For the syrup: |
| 250 g flour | 350 g sugar (honey can be substituted for a part) |
| 1 dessertspoon of butter | 3.5 dl water |
| 6 eggs | 1 stick cinnamon |
| 5 dl water | rind of 1 orange or lemon in thin strips |
| 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder | 1 wine glass of Port |
| 1 teaspoon salt |
Photograph (c)2008 Sofia Martins
Preparation:
Sift the flour and salt; then mix in a little cold water. Make sure there are no lumps in the mixture. Melt the butter in a pan over warm water, and add this to the flour. Cook the mixture gently in a thick saucepan, beating continuously, until the mixture is thick and dry. Remove from the heat, leave to cool a little and then add the baking powder. Add the eggs one by one and beat until bubbles begin to form.
Drop the mixture, spoonful by spoonful, into a deep pan of moderately hot oil (temperature should not exceed 175 º C) and fry slowly, turning frequently, until each sonho is puffed up and lightly browned. When turning the sonhos in the oil, prick with a long, thin needle.
Serve with the syrup prepared as follows: Boil all the ingredients, except the wine, for 10 minutes. Then remove from the heat and add the Port. Alternatively, sprinkle the sonhos with sugar and crumbled or powdered cinnamon.
