Awame

Awame (also called awamat) is a Syrian and Lebanese dessert that is often eaten during Chanukah. It’s akin to a Chanukah sufganiyot (donuts) but instead of stuffed with jam, they are lightly fried in oil and soaked in orange blossom water infused syrup. Though they are fried in oil, they’re light and not dripping in oil. They leave a delicious sweet stickiness on your fingers. For more of my Chanukah recipes, scroll to the bottom of the post. Chanukah Sameach!

Frying in the oil

Awame Ingredients: (makes about 20)
1 packet of yeast
1/2 cup white flour
1 small pinch of salt
1 c sugar
2 c water
Orange peel, 1 tsp orange blossom water or 1 tsp rose water 
several cups of vegetable oil

Prepration:
1. Mix the yeast, flour and salt together in a bowl. Slowly add 1 cup warm water to the mixture and whisk until creamy, without lumps, but not liquidy. It should be thick like yogurt. Cover and let sit for at least 20 minutes. The batter should rise.

In the sugar water

2. While the dough is sitting, mix in a saucepan on medium heat the other 1 cup of water, 1 cup sugar and the orange peel and/or orange blossom or rose water. Heat on medium heat until it simmers and the sugar melts.

3. Once the dough has risen, pour several cups of vegetable oil into a deep frying pan or pot. Heat the oil medium-high heat until hot. Take teaspoons of the dough and drop into the oil. Cook until crispy and light brown. Remove from the pot and put on a rack to let the oil drip off. Then, roll each one in the sugar water. Return to the rack to let cool.

B’tayavon

Tevet: Black Eyed Pea Soup

Other Chanukah recipes:

Chai tea spiced apple sauce
Black eyed pea soup
Oil and salt rainbow salad
Infused olive oils