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Paparajotes
Paparajotes: lemon leaves dipped in batter, fried and rolled in cinnamon sugar (the leaf isn't eaten)
Paparajotes are the sweet of the Murcian huerta's spring festivals, above all the Bando de la Huerta, when the city fills with people in traditional dress and stalls fry them by the hundred. A lemon tree leaf is dipped in a light batter, fried and dusted with cinnamon sugar; you hold it by the stalk, pull off the crisp coating with your teeth and leave the leaf, which flavours the batter but is not food. Newcomers who try to eat the whole thing are a long-standing local joke. Chef's tip: use only leaves from an unsprayed lemon tree, washed and dried.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the batter
To fry and coat
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Whisk the 2 eggs, ¾ cup milk, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp lemon zest and 1 pinch salt together. Sift in the 5 ½ oz plain flour and 1 tsp baking powder and whisk to a smooth batter about as thick as double cream. Rest for 10 minutes.
12 minStep 2: Mix the 4 tbsp sugar and 2 tsp ground cinnamon on a plate.
1 minStep 3: Heat the 3 ¼ cups sunflower oil for frying in a deep pan to 350°F, when a drop of batter rises at once and sizzles.
6 minStep 4: Holding each of the 24 fresh lemon leaves by its stalk, dip it into the batter so it is coated on both sides, let the excess drip off and lower it into the oil. Fry 4–5 at a time for about 1 minute a side until puffed and golden.
12 minStep 5: Drain on kitchen paper for a few seconds, then roll in the cinnamon sugar while hot.
3 minStep 6: Serve warm and tell everyone to eat only the coating: a common mistake with first-timers is biting into the leaf, which is tough, bitter and not meant to be eaten.
0 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does paparajotes take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 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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