MEKICI (MACEDONIAN DOUGHNUTS)

Mekici are a type of fried dough, very popular in Macedonia. Their taste is similar to doughnuts. It's a tradition that when a baby is born, the grandmother prepares mekici for the newborn :) They can be homemade or purchased in bakeries.
From the listed ingredients, you'll get lots of donuts, so if you're making them only for your family, half the dose.

Ingredients:

  • 250 ml milk (1 cup)
  • 250 ml lukewarm water (1 cup)
  • 1 fresh yeast (40 g) or 2 bags dry yeast
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 500-600 ml oil for frying (2 cups)
  • 1 kg of flour (35 oz)
Preparation:
  1. Place yeast in lukewarm water. Add 1 tablespoon sugar and 2 tablespoons flour to activate yeast.
  2. Then, knead a soft dough adding the eggs, flour, salt, baking powder, milk and oil. Knead until dough becomes nice and smooth.
  3. Pull the dough by hand and if it doesn't tear apart or separate, then dough is good. Let prepared dough stay for about 40 minutes (of course it depends on the ambient temperature, warmer temperature-shorter time)
  4. Knead dough again and let it rest to reach again.
  5. Pour oil in a deeper pan and place pan to warm up. Oil hands, form irregular shapes from dough and put to fry until they got beautiful golden color. Place fried mekici on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
  6. Serve with cheese or jam.