# Luqmat al-Qadi: Crisp Syrup Doughnuts

> Luqmat al-qadi is made from a loose batter of flour, cornflour, yeast and yoghurt, rested for an hour and fried at 170°C with constant turning until golden, then dipped in cold syrup for only a few seconds. The cornflour is the secret to crispness that lasts.

**Egyptian Cuisine · 95 min · 6 servings · 260 kcal per serving**

Luqmat al-qadi — also called zalabia — is the fastest and cheapest sweet on the Ramadan table, but for most people the crispness disappears within minutes. The fix is cornflour and oil temperature.

## Ingredients

- 2 cups — plain flour
- ½ cup — cornflour
- 1 tbsp — instant yeast
- ½ cup — yoghurt
- 2 cups — warm water
- 1 tbsp — sugar
- 1 pinch — salt
- 2 cups — oil for frying
- 2 cups — cold sugar syrup

## Method

1. **The batter** — Mix the flour, cornflour, yeast, sugar and salt, then add the yoghurt and warm water gradually and whisk until you have a smooth, loose batter — about the consistency of thin pancake batter.
2. **Proving** — Cover and leave somewhere warm for an hour until it's risen and the surface is covered in bubbles.
3. **Frying** — Heat the oil to 170°C. Drop in spoonfuls with a wet teaspoon, or squeeze them out between your fingers. Turn constantly until golden brown all over.
4. **The syrup** — Lift them out of the oil and dip them in the cold syrup for twenty seconds only, then drain in a sieve.

## Tips

- Wet the spoon before each scoop and the batter won't stick.
- Lukewarm oil makes them drink fat and stay soft; 170°C is the number.
- Never leave them in the syrup for more than half a minute.

## FAQ

### Why are they dry inside?
The batter is too thick. It should fall easily off the spoon — add a quarter cup more water and try again.

### They lose their crispness fast.
Cut the dipping time down, and increase the cornflour to a third of a cup per cup of flour.

### Can I use an air fryer?
Yes, at 190°C for twelve minutes with a spray of oil, but the texture comes out closer to cake than to crisp.

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Source: https://hanakoleah.com/en/egyptian-cuisine/luqmat-al-qadi-crispy-doughnuts-recipe
Edited by: Marwa Mohamed
Last updated: 2026-10-30