Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Paczki (Pounchki/Punchki)

The Lenten Season starts today on Ash Wednesday. Yesterday was Fat Tuesday-the day when all rich and fatty foods in the house is to be finished. This concept falls under the European culture. I am drawing a blank as to what Christians in India traditionally would make on Fat Tuesday. Back home my family did not make a big deal of it but we all stuffed ourselves with meat and fish before lent starts.  Yes, for lent we give up only meat and fish, not sweets nor rich food.

Punchki

As such, I decided to go with the European tradition on Fat Tuesday this year.  With a little snooping around on the web found a recipe for paczki. Simply put, packzki is a polish doughnut.  Deep fried with stuffing and dusted with sugar- it's decadent. It is also very filling, but then again that’s the whole point of having this on Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday. The recipe is from here. All I have done is halve the quantity and skip the step of layering and filling before frying.

Punchki

Punchki

Ingredients:
Eggs – 3 Whole or 6 egg yolks
Salt – ½ tspn
Dry Yeast – 1/8 ounce (half of a sachet is what I used)
Water – 2 Tbspn
Butter – 1/3 C at room temperature
Sugar – ¼ C
Bread Flour – 2 ¼ C
Brandy or Rum – 8 tspn (I eye-balled about half of 1/3 C)
Whipping Cream – ½ C scalded
Preserve – to fill (I used Smuckers, apricot preserve)
Oil – for deep frying

Method:
1. Beat eggs for about 5 minutes or until frothy. If you are using only egg yolks(which is recommended) beat till it is thick and soft, and set aside
2. Dissolve yeast in luke warm water 110 D C
3. In a separate bowl Cream butter and add sugar gradually and beat until fluffy
4. Using the lowest speed on your egg beater beat in the yeast
5. Add about 1/8th cup of flour into the above mixture
6. Follow up with your choice of rum or brandy and half the cream
7. Beat in ¼ cup of flour
8. Beat in the remaining cream
9. Add ½ of the remaining flour and the egg and beat for 2 minutes
10. By now I changed the blade on my hand mixer to the hook which is used to knead dough
11. Gradually beat in the remaining flour until it comes together as a ball
12. Cover and let it rise.  It will take about an hour.
13. When doubled, takes about an hour punch it down, cover and let it rise again
14. After another hour or so, punch down again, and on a floured surface (you will need some flour since the dough is sloppy) use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to about 2 inch thickness
15. Cut using a cookie cutter or glass
16. Deep fry on low medium until both sides are golden brown.
17. Break a punchki and make sure the insides are cooked.  This will help to gauge if you have the heat on the right setting. 
18. Serve with cream or fruit preserve filling.

Submitted to Yeast Spotting

Contributor: Sunitha

42 comments:

  1. WOW..THAT LOOKS SO DELICIOUS AND AN AWESOME PHOTOGRAPHY...

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  2. Looks awesome,read about this yesterday..adipoli recipe dear,loved the clicks.

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  3. I love donuts!! These Polish ones look quite similar the German 'Berliner'. We could buy it almost everywhere at the moment because we had carnival a few days ago.

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  4. Super pics and delicious recipe...wud love to hear from you...

    FunWidFud

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  5. Very addictive Punchki looks irresistible, awesome clicks..

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  6. Lovely doughnuts. These look delicious.

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  7. Punchki looks delicious. Nice clicks.

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  8. They look like "beignet" - punchki sounds fancy and delicious!

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  9. im wondering if i can bake them..not a fan of deep frying:)

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  10. Yummy treat Sunitha. Lovely click too, as always :-)

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  11. Looks so perfect and drool-worthy!

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  12. Punchki looks perfect and delicious..tempting pics as always!

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  13. Super pics and delicious recipe...

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  14. Yummy! I have never had these, but they look wonderful:)

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  15. they look totally awesome and delicious!....perfectly fried!...love the colors too!....
    Smitha
    Smitha's Spicy Flavors

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  16. Vey new but they look yum yum...yum!!:)


    US Masala

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  17. Lovely clicks of the donuts. Must have tasted great as well.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  18. You have my admiration for making these donuts! They look perfect and totally delicious! Fluffy and sweet.

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  19. though not simple, it isn't impossible.

    Nice to read the recipe does not involve baking :)

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  20. New rec but its come out so soft and nice tht even I would love to have a bite, YUM!

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  21. adipoli recipe dear kandittu kothi akunnu

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  22. Totally interesting n new to me...beautiful clicks

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  23. Entirely new recipe and looks scrumptious

    Lite Bite

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  24. this name z really intersting n look beautiful..love to try it..

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  25. Whatever this is, I don't care! :) I'm not able to take my eyes off those stunning shots. Looks totally professional and colorful too. Especially loved the first one!!

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  26. Punchki, i loved the name :). how much i wish i could eat these yummy treats, Sunitha..Picture perfect!!

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  27. No matter whats the name...this looks divine!

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  28. Looks very delicious...Your have nice and lovely blog...Please visit my blog when you have time...

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  29. Thank you everyone. There was a comment regarding the name of the dish being Paczki and not punchki. Agree to the spelling but the internet says punchki is the pronunciation. I have duly made the corrections and thank the unidentified personality for pointing it out. Since the person did not reveal his/her identity I am taking the liberty to delete the comment.

    :) Comments, criticism and appreciations are welcome but I take the liberty to moderate them.

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  30. Excellent sounds yum sunitha..loved the stunning clicks!!

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  31. Nice reading the post.. the dish looks stunning as well as the pictures.

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  32. Nice recipies with nice photos.
    1st time visitor and a follower too.
    Pls visit my blog, I am a new blogger.

    http://rakshaskitchen.blogspot.com

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  33. Amazing bright pictures & these tasty things look quite delectable!!

    MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM,...!!!

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  34. Looks absolutely delicious. Bookmarked.

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