Bolas de Fraile are a traditional confectionery delicacy, perfect with a good cup of tea or coffee. Their soft and spongy texture, coated in sugar, makes them an irresistible pleasure. Below, I give you the recipe both in its traditional version and using the Thermomix, so that you can choose the option that suits you best.
Ingredients:
- 500 g of wheat flour (plain flour, if you want more consistency, you can mix half plain flour, half strong flour).
- 10 g of dry yeast or 25 g of fresh yeast
- 100 g sugar
- 200 ml warm milk
- 2 eggs
- 50 g melted lard (butter)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- Pinch of salt
- Frying oil
- Extra sugar for breading
Traditional production:
- In a large bowl, mix the flour with the sugar and a pinch of salt. If you use dry yeast, add it directly to the mixture. If you prefer fresh yeast, dissolve it first in a little warm milk before adding it to the flour.
- In another bowl, lightly beat the eggs, add the melted butter and vanilla essence. Pour this mixture together with the warm milk into the bowl with the flour.
- Mix the ingredients with a spoon or spatula until a sticky dough forms.
- Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Add more flour only if necessary to prevent it from sticking too much, but be careful not to add too much so that the balls are fluffy.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a cloth and leave to rest in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- After the first rising, divide the dough into small portions the size of a large walnut. Make small balls with your hands and place them on a floured surface. Cover with a cloth and leave to rise for a further 30 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the balls in batches, turning them so that they brown evenly on all sides. Remove and place on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Dredge the still-warm balls in sugar to coat them completely.
- If you wish, you can fill them with dulce de leche, custard or jam using a piping bag with a fine tip. Just make a small hole in one side of each ball and fill with the flavour of your choice.
Advice:
- Oil at the right temperature: Make sure the oil is not too hot to prevent the dumplings from burning on the outside and being raw on the inside. One trick is to try it with a small ball of dough; if it rises to the surface and browns without burning, it is at the right temperature.
- Rising time: Respecting the resting time is essential to obtain spongy and well aerated balls.
Preparation with Thermomix:
- Place the warm milk, yeast and a teaspoon of sugar in the Thermomix mixing bowl. Program 2 min / 37°C / speed 2 to activate the yeast.
- Add the eggs, melted butter and vanilla essence. Mix for 10 sec / speed 3.
- Add the flour, sugar and pinch of salt. Mix for 3 min. / pinch (kneading mode). The dough should be smooth and slightly sticky. If necessary, add a little more flour, but make sure it is not too dry.
- Leave the dough to rest in the Thermomix mixing bowl for 1 hour, until it has doubled in size.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and divide it into small walnut-sized portions. Form small balls with your hands and place them on a floured surface. Leave to rest for a further 30 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a deep frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the balls in batches, turning them to brown evenly. Place on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Dredge the still-warm balls in sugar to coat them completely.
And ready, now you have delicious "Bolas de Fraile" ready to enjoy with a good tea or coffee. Dare to prepare them and surprise everyone with this irresistible classic!
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