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Buñuelos de algas
Sea lettuce fritters
Buñuelos de algas: Rocha's sea lettuce fritters from the Uruguayan coast
ParaguayanOn the beaches of Rocha, from La Paloma to Punta del Diablo, vendors walk the sand with baskets of hot buñuelos de algas: puffy, salty fritters speckled green with sea lettuce, eaten with a squeeze of lemon. Use dried sea lettuce or mixed seaweed flakes from a shop, or fresh sea lettuce only from a seller who harvests clean water; never pick it from a harbour or near drains. The usual mistake is frying in oil that isn't hot enough, so the fritters soak it up and turn greasy. Chef's tip: rest the batter for 15 minutes so the seaweed softens and the fritters puff more.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- ⅓ oz dried sea lettuce or mixed seaweed flakesor 150 g fresh sea lettuce, well washed and chopped
- 7 oz plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup cold sparkling water
- 1 garlic clovecrushed
- 2 tbsp parsleychopped
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 ¼ cups sunflower oilfor deep-frying
- 1 lemoncut into wedges
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Soak dried ⅓ oz dried sea lettuce or mixed seaweed flakes in cold water for 5 minutes, drain, squeeze dry and chop. (Rinse fresh sea lettuce several times to remove sand.)
5 minStep 2: Whisk 7 oz plain flour, 2 tsp baking powder and ½ tsp salt in a bowl. Add 2 eggs and ¾ cup cold sparkling water and whisk to a thick, smooth batter.
3 minStep 3: Stir in the seaweed, 1 garlic clove and 2 tbsp parsley. Rest for 15 minutes.
15 minStep 4: Heat 3 ¼ cups sunflower oil to 350°F, or until a drop of batter rises and sizzles at once. Drop in tablespoons of batter, a few at a time, and fry, turning, until puffed and deep golden, 3–4 minutes.
12 minStep 5: Drain on kitchen paper, sprinkle with a little salt and serve hot with 1 lemon.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 42 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does buñuelos de algas take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of baking powder?
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar per 1 tsp.
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