Luqaimat/Awwama/Arabian Dumplings

 Luqaimat usually known as awwama here in most stores and bakeries, is a simple but great sweet/dessert option for an occasion. As some of you might be familiar with Global village– a shopping and entertainment fair associated with Dubai shopping festival.This one can be seen in every nook and corner of the global village premises where in tents Arabic ladies in their traditional attire will be making fresh batches and selling.Along with these they also sell crepes with cheese fillings.

Luqaimat made live- fresh and hot…a view from a tent at Global village.

We visit global village when its open a couple of times in a single season just to devour these (and of course other food stalls like those which sell hot dutch pancakes,waffles,Holland cookies etc also remain on our list).

this is how they drop the batter into the hot oil to form perfect balls…

 So when global village shuts and while we wait for the next season there is no way but to recreate it at home.

Golden balls….crispy and yummy……

Ready to make mixes are also available here at ease.But when its so easy a recipe I don’t opt store bought packages.
Here goes my recipe…

Ingredients: 

For the batter:

White flour :1 1/2 C

Instant Yeast:1/2 tbsp

Sugar:1tsp
Salt:1/2 tsp
Warm milk: 1 1/4 C
Cornflour :2 tbsp
Yoghurt :2 tbsp

For the syrup:
Sugar:1/2 C
Water :1/2 C
Lime juice: 1 tbsp
Flavoring of choice
Directions:
For the batter:
1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Add the yoghurt and milk,whisk well to get a lump free batter.The batter will have cake like batter consistency.
3. Keep the bowl in a warm dry place for about 30 mins to 1 hr to rise.
4. Heat oil in a wide pan.Drop small spoonfuls of batter into the oil and fry until golden brown.
5. Keep the oil at an even temperature to get well cooked dumplings.
6.Drain the oil and drop the balls into the cooled syrup.
7. Serve immediately.
For the syrup:
In a saucepan add sugar and water and heat it to simmer for about ten minute swirling the pan in between for the sugar to dissolve better.Do not stir
The syrup is ready when a spoon dipped in  and cooled has sticky syrup over its surface.
At this stage add in the lime juice and flavoring of your choice.Boil for a min and remove from heat.Keep aside to cool.



Notes:
For the sugar syrup any desired flavoring can be used.Usually used ones are crushed cardamom pods,orange blossom water,rose water,saffron strands etc
Date syrup is a great alternative for sugar syrup.

15 Comments

  1. Masha Allah, nothing like a sweet dessert for a sweet tooth like myself. Nice combination of ingredients too.

    Its always a good experience and feels good being able to recreate menus we see when we are out and about.

  2. I tried your recepie and they turned out really great!They were not heavy as the ones we buy.They were light and fluffy.My family and neighbour loved themโค luckely I doubled the amounts of the batter and the syrup.This will be my go to recepie.Thank you!

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