Mardi Gras Recipe: Beignets

If you are looking for a tasty Mardi Gras recipe to cook for your Fat Tuesday celebration, try beignets! This New Orleans specialty is well known for its crispy, chewy texture and delicious taste. The word “beignet” is French for “fritter” or “doughnut.” Beignets have been associated with other delicious Mardi Gras recipes in France since the 16th century. Today, they are also the official state doughnut of Louisiana!

Whether you are hosting a Mardi Gras party this year or are taking part in the Bourbon Street festivities, beignets are a great Mardi Gras recipe to add to your menu!

 

Pour ½ cup of room temperature water and yeast into a bowl and let it sit for 5 minutes. Pour the shortening, sugar, and salt into a large bowl. Then, add the boiling water and milk into the bowl and stir. Continue to mix until the mixture is lukewarm. Pour in the water and yeast mixture and the eggs. Slowly mix in the flour to form the dough into a ball. Remove the dough from the bowl and place it onto a lightly floured surface. Knead it until smooth. Place the dough back into the large bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for one hour.

Roll out small pieces of the dough to ¼ inch thickness and cut into 1 inch squares. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Let it heat up to 360 degrees. Slowly slide dough into the oil to prevent it from splattering. Flip the dough constantly for about 3 minutes or until they become a golden color. After the beignets are fried, drain them for a few seconds on paper towels. Then toss them into a bag of confectioners’ sugar to coat them. Finally, place them onto a serving plate and enjoy!

Lastly, be sure to send online Mardi Gras invitations for your celebration! Text or email invites right from your phone, easily manage RSVPs, and communicate with your guests.