Should I use shortening in beignets instead of butter?
I have been doing a lot of research on different types of recipes for beignets. I want to replicate the signature New Orleans beignet by having the air pockets on the inside of the treat. If I don't have the pockets it would just be a regular donut but in the shape of a rectangle. What is the secret to achieving the air pockets? Is it using shortening instead of butter?
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A BEIGNET is truly nothing more than a FRITTER or DONUT ⚜️
Trying to 'paste in' grand recipes from New Orleans during the 1800's. ~
"...Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904) lived in New Orleans for a decade (from age 27) and wrote the cookbook La Cuisine Creole (1885) which included five recipes for doughnuts -
DOUGHNUTS WITH HOP YEAST
Take two quarts of light hop or potato yeast sponge, mix in it a pint of new warm milk, three beaten eggs, a cup of butter or lard, one large cup of sugar, a spoonful of cinnamon, and a little salt; beat this well, and sift in flour to make a soft dough. Set this in a warm place to rise, and when it is light roll it out on the board a little thicker than pie crust, and cut with a knife in squares of about three inches. Let them stand a little and fry them in plenty of boiling lard. If fried in a little lard they will soak the fat, which will spoil them. Throw them, or any other kind of cakes you wish to fry, into a pot half full of boiling lard, and it insures their being light and nicely browned.
Hearn, Lafcadio. La Cuisine Creole: A Collection of Culinary Recipes, From Leading Chefs and Noted Creole Housewives, Who Have Made New Orleans Famous for its Cuisine. New Orleans: 1885"
As for your POCKETS believe it is being fastidious about the temperature of your oil ... Having seen Beignets being made in
New Orleans ... They are fried in very hot oil & quite fast & ASAP dumped gently in the powdered sugar ... please read 'old' cookbooks' recipes of 1800's New Orleans in the original form ..
Many resources on line.
Success!!! ↑ ↑ ↑
Voilá
Please have fun reading ‡ Researching the above...
It calls for hops but again, does
mention 'potato sponge' ... do you have potatoes ?
ques que c'est la BIÉRE ??? BEER ⚜️
Experiment ... For how else could they have done in 1800's New Orleans ???
{No one could leave the house during Fever Season 1800's
New Orleans}
Reposé Joyeusement et Calmement...
Be Happy & Calm...
Love to utilize my 7 years of studying French ⚜️
Peace & Fortitude...
Picture of New Orleans in Late~Mid 1800's...
Lily 🌹🕊️