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Kuih keria
Sweet potato doughnuts
Kuih keria: sweet potato doughnuts with a crackly sugar glaze
Afternoon kuih sellers in Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh pile kuih keria on trays still warm, each ring wearing a thin white shell of crystallised sugar that crackles when you bite. The dough is mostly mashed sweet potato with just enough flour to hold it, so the inside is soft and almost creamy. Orange-fleshed sweet potato gives a sunny colour; the yellow or purple ones are used too. Chef's tip: adding the sugar to syrup that isn't boiled long enough leaves the doughnuts sticky; it must reach the point where a drop turns cloudy and grainy on a cold plate.
- Total time
- 60 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 14
Ingredients
For the dough
- 1 ⅛ lb sweet potatoespeeled and cut into chunks
- 4 oz plain flour
- 1 tbsp tapioca starch
- ¼ tsp salt
- 4 ¼ cups neutral oilfor deep-frying
For the sugar coat
- 5 ½ oz granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Steam 1 ⅛ lb sweet potatoes over a high heat for 15–20 minutes, until a knife slides through. Mash smoothly while hot and leave to cool until just warm.
20 minStep 2: Add 4 oz plain flour, 1 tbsp tapioca starch and ¼ tsp salt and knead into a soft dough that no longer sticks to your hands. Different sweet potatoes hold more water, so add a spoonful more flour only if needed.
Step 3: Roll into 14 balls, flatten each to 1.5 cm and push a floured finger through the middle to make a ring.
Step 4: Heat 4 ¼ cups neutral oil in a wok to 350°F over a medium heat. Fry 4–5 rings at a time for 4–5 minutes, turning, until deep golden and puffed. Drain on a rack.
12 minStep 5: Boil 5 ½ oz granulated sugar and ¼ cup water in a clean wok over a medium heat, without stirring, for 4–5 minutes until thick and big-bubbled.
5 minStep 6: Turn the heat to low, add the doughnuts and toss them constantly with two spatulas. Within 2–3 minutes the syrup turns white and grainy and dries onto them. Spread on a tray to cool.
3 minStep 7: Eat the same day, when the crust is at its crunchiest.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 150 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 26 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kuih keria take?
- About 60 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 14 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of sweet potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
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