For the second day of making Bulgarian Dishes, I have a deep-fried flatbread called Mekitsi or Bulgarian Fried Dough. I think my country was almost decided when I read about this flatbread. I know one might wonder why to choose something one has already cooked. Sometimes I try certain dishes just to know how similar it tastes and looks. Mekitsi (Bulgarian Fried Dough) looks and tastes almost the same as Tortas Fritas (Fried Bread) from Argentina. The sweet version where powdered sugar is sprinkled is almost the same except in the Bulgarian version, yeast is added and left to ferment.
When I set out to make this, I thought I won't have time to allow fermentation. However, things got changed and I finally made it after a long period of fermentation. The final fried bread was tasting a little sour with yeast presence and the sweetness of icing sugar was great to indulge in.
Initial idea was to make at least one savory bread as all it requires is to stuff the bread with feta cheese and deep fry. I couldn't do it in the end and only the sugar sprinkled bread was made. I used this recipe to make this version and I only made with 1 cup of flour, with the recipes 3 cups of flour will yield more than what one can handle.
Mekitsi (Bulgarian Fried Dough)
Ingredients Needed:
All purpose flour - 3 cups
1 yeast packet or 2 1/4 teaspoon yeast (I used instant yeast)
Warm water - 1/8 cup
Baking soda - 1/2 tsp
Yogurt / Curds - 1 cup
Oil - 1 tbsp
White vinegar - 1 tbsp
Sugar - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Oi for deep frying
How to make Mekitsi
In a wide bowl, add the flour, salt, curds, sugar, soda, oil, vinegar, instant yeast, and mix well. Then slowly add water to knead into a soft dough.
Continue kneading for about 10 minutes. Put in a glass bowl and let rise for 1 hour.
If you are planning to fry these right away, the dough is ready after an hour of sitting. Else refrigerate until use. Remove and bring it to room temperature before frying.
To deep-fry, heat a pan with enough oil. Punch the dough down and make balls, press out discs of about 3-4 inches in diameter.
When the oil is hot, fry on both sides. When both sides are brown, remove from oil and place on a kitchen towel. For a sweet treat, when cool sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar or powdered sugar or Icing sugar.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing this BM
vaishali sabnani says
Sounds like bhatura with sprinkled sugar ! Lol , excellent bread , your love for breads gives us amazing varieties Valli .
Ritu Tangri says
These are just like bhaturas we make only difference being sprinkling of sugar... is there any difference in the taste??
Jenny says
look really tasty. i can’t wait to try them.
Varadas Kitchen says
There is a fry bread made by native Indians that comes close to this. And they eat it sprinkled with sugar.
Gayathri Kumar says
When I read the name of the bread, I was thinking on the lines of donuts. And as every one has mentioned here, it surely looks like our bathura. One new variety of bread learnt today..
Priya Suresh says
Now i want to grab those fried bread rite now, very interesting to give a try.
Pavani N says
Those fried breads look so crispy and delicious.
Sapana Behl says
The Bulgarian fried bread looks yummy and so rich.
Archana Potdar says
Looks like I am not the only one thinking batura with sugar sprinkled. Must have tasted amazing
Harini-Jaya R says
Bulgarian version of bhatura? Sounds interesting
Usha says
Fried bread with sprinkled sugar looks delicious
Chef Mireille says
What a llovely sweet bread