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Oponki
Quark ring doughnuts
Polish quick quark ring doughnuts for Fat Thursday
On Tłusty Czwartek, Fat Thursday, Poles queue at bakeries for pączki, but at home many families make oponki instead: little ring doughnuts from a quick twaróg (curd cheese) dough with no yeast and no waiting. They fry in minutes into light, tender 'tyres' that are rolled in sugar or glazed and eaten warm by the plateful. The common mistake is kneading the dough too much, which makes them tough; mix only until it holds together. Chef's tip: press the twaróg through a sieve first, or blend it, so the dough is smooth and the rings puff evenly.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
- 9 oz twaróg or ricotta, well drainedsieved
- 2 eggs
- 2 ⅛ oz caster sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 9 oz plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 4 ¼ cups vegetable oilfor deep-frying
- 1 ¾ oz icing sugarfor dusting
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Beat the 9 oz twaróg or ricotta, well drained, 2 eggs, 2 ⅛ oz caster sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract until smooth.
5 minStep 2: Add the 9 oz plain flour, 2 tsp baking powder and 1 pinch salt and mix briefly into a soft dough. Do not over-knead.
5 minStep 3: Roll out 1 cm thick on a floured worktop. Cut 7 cm rounds and cut a 2.5 cm hole from the middle of each; fry the holes too.
5 minStep 4: Heat the 4 ¼ cups vegetable oil to 350°F. Fry 4–5 rings at a time for 2 minutes a side until puffed and golden brown. They are done when a skewer pushed into the side comes out clean.
20 minStep 5: Drain on kitchen paper and dust generously with 1 ¾ oz icing sugar. Eat warm.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 36 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does oponki take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 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 eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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