Luqaimat

Name: Luqaimat
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Bahraini
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tbsp yeast; 1 tbsp sugar; 1 cup warm water; 1/4 tsp saffron in 2 tbsp warm water; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; Pinch of salt; Oil for deep frying; For syrup: 1 cup date syrup (dibs) or sugar syrup; 1/2 tsp cardamom; Sesame seeds for garnish

لقيمات (loo-GAY-maht)

Sweet Saffron Dumplings

⏱ Prep Time 40 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 290 kcal

Crispy on the outside and airy inside, these golden fried dough balls are drenched in date syrup or saffron-infused sugar syrup. Bahrain's favorite sweet treat is irresistibly addictive.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 4.0g

Carbs 46.0g

Fat 10.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian vegan dairy-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ gluten ⚠ dairy

Equipment Needed

deep fryer or heavy pot mixing bowl slotted spoon

Presentation Guide

Vessel: serving plate

Garnishes: sesame seeds, date syrup drizzle

Accompaniments: Arabic coffee, sweet tea

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp yeast
1 tbsp sugar
1 cup warm water
1/4 tsp saffron in 2 tbsp warm water
1 tbsp vegetable oil
Pinch of salt
Oil for deep frying
For syrup: 1 cup date syrup (dibs) or sugar syrup
1/2 tsp cardamom
Sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

1
Mix flour, yeast, sugar, salt, saffron water, and warm water into a smooth, sticky batter. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
2
Heat oil for deep frying to 175C. The oil temperature is critical for achieving crispy outsides with fluffy interiors.
3
Wet your hand and take small amounts of batter, squeezing through your thumb and forefinger to form small balls. Drop into the hot oil.
4
Fry for 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally, until deep golden brown and puffed up throughout.
5
Remove with a slotted spoon and immediately dip into warm date syrup or drizzle generously with syrup.
6
Sprinkle with sesame seeds and cardamom. Serve hot while the exterior is still crackling crisp.

💡

Did You Know?

During Ramadan in Bahrain, the sweet aroma of frying luqaimat wafts through neighborhoods just before iftar, becoming the unofficial scent of the holy month.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

deep fryer or heavy pot
mixing bowl
slotted spoon

Garnishing

sesame seeds, date syrup drizzle

Accompaniments

Arabic coffee, sweet tea

The Story Behind Luqaimat

Luqaimat, meaning "small bites" in Arabic, are one of the most ancient sweets in the Arab world, with roots stretching back to the medieval Abbasid era. In Bahrain, luqaimat are synonymous with Ramadan, when they are prepared daily for iftar. The use of date syrup (dibs) rather than sugar syrup is the distinctly Bahraini touch, connecting this sweet to the island's millennia-old date palm cultivation. Street vendors and home cooks alike take pride in producing the perfect luqaimat.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed ramadan, dessert, celebrations 📜 Origins: Ancient Arabian

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