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The legendary Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans has been serving beignets and chickory coffee to hungry patrons since 1862. These fried, square, dough desserts are often called the French Market doughnut and are the official doughnut of Louisiana. The Cafe Du Monde has been selling their beignet mixes in the cafe and now sell them online and at specialty retailers. Getting the beignets fried to perfection is an exact science.
A beignet is a French fritter with a vibrant heritage. During the Middle Ages, cooks in Spain deep fried a yeast fritter and called it a bunuelo. In France, they shaped airy "choux" pastry rounds like little cabbages and called them French Market doughnuts, while Italians fried dough balls and sprinkled the "zeppole" with powdered sugar. Acadians brought the "grand-pere," a fried dumpling version, from Canada. French Cajuns brought the "beignet" fritter into New Orleans.
One of the world's great carbohydrate indulgences is a beignet. Although the French word "beignet" merely means fried dough, the actual creation tends to be more diverse than the American doughnut. The most classic version of a beignet consists of a fried square of dough, which the chef may or may not frost, but typically dusts with liberal amounts of confectioner's sugar.
Beignets are a well known part of the culinary culture of New Orleans, an American city that is as famous for its food as for the parties thrown in the French Quarter. The history behind the beignet is as interesting as these treats are tasty. The beignet has traveled a long way to become the most well known treat of South Louisiana eateries.
Beignets are light, puffy pastries traditionally served in New Orleans. No visitor to the Crescent City can consider a trip complete without a stop at Café du Monde for beignets and café au lait. Like most Louisiana customs, beignets have an interesting history that began in France and traveled all the way to the mouth of the Mississippi.
The word "beignet" is a French term for fritter or more commonly, a doughnut. A beignet as we know it in the United States is a fried dough pastry that is covered with powdered sugar. This delicious treat is famously served in Louisiana, in cities such as New Orleans.
Beignets are a French treat, a sweet pastry traditionally enjoyed in the weeks leading up to the fasting period of Lent. Beignet recipes vary from region to region and from chef to chef, made from a leavened dough or a quick pastry concoction. The rum included in this recipe is for flavor only; if you wish, you can use more or less than indicated by the ingredients or substitute the rum with 1 tbsp. orange water.
Learn How to fry traditional New Orleans style beignets with expert cooking tips in this free Cajun cuisine video clip.
Learn How to cool traditional New Orleans style beignets with expert cooking tips in this free Cajun cuisine video clip.
Learn How to cut dough for traditional New Orleans style beignets with expert cooking tips in this free Cajun cuisine video clip.
Learn How to prepare your work surface for traditional New Orleans style beignets with expert cooking tips in this free Cajun cuisine video clip.
Learn How to store dough for traditional New Orleans style beignets with expert cooking tips in this free Cajun cuisine video clip.
Learn How to combine ingredients for traditional New Orleans style beignets with expert cooking tips in this free Cajun cuisine video clip.
Learn How to shape dough for traditional New Orleans style beignets with expert cooking tips in this free Cajun cuisine video clip.
Learn the Ingredients for Beignets in this free new Orleans recipe video from an expert French pastry chef.
Watch an introduction to making traditional New Orleans style beignets with expert cooking tips in this free Cajun cuisine video clip.
You don't have to travel to New Orlean's French Quarter to taste a beignet with your morning latte. Here's a recipe that is surprisingly easy to execute and that makes real beignets. Astound your friends by serving them at your next brunch.
Cajun cooking at it's best will have crawfish in the recipe. Combine crawfish with famous beignets and you have a great tasting meal. The most famous beignets are sprinkled with white powdered sugar and are served for breakfast. Crawfish beignets are to go along with meals or any time of the day. Follow this simple recipe to make crawfish beignets.
