Sweeten your Mardi Gras with Loukoumades: Greek doughnuts you can make at home!

Loukoumades: A popular sweet delicacy in Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus. Usually drizzled with honey or a sweet syrup and sprinkled with crushed nuts, these doughnuts are best served warm immediately after being cooked. Even when cooled, they remain delicious, making them a perfect snack for Mardi Gras.

• 3 ounces of fresh yeast
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 cups of milk
• 6 tablespoons of sugar
• 4 cups of flour
• a pinch of salt
• one egg white
• oil for frying
• a few tablespoons of liquid honey
• a tablespoon of sesame seeds
• a tablespoon of finely chopped nuts
• a teaspoon of cinnamon

• Crumble the yeast and mix it with olive oil, then pour over with warm milk.
• Set aside the yeast and milk mixture.
• In a separate bowl, combine the flour with sugar and salt.
• Add the milk and yeast mixture to the flour and mix well until the dough turns smooth and consistent.
• Cover the dough bowl with a towel and let it rise for about 2 hours.
• Whisk the egg white to stiff peaks and fold into the risen dough.
• Heat the oil in a deep pot.
• Form small, spoonful balls and carefully place them into the hot oil.
• Fry the doughnuts until they're browned on all sides.
• Transfer the fried doughnuts onto a plate lined with baking parchment to drain the excess oil.
• While the doughnuts are still warm, drizzle them with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon, sesame seeds, or nuts.