Wondering how to make a delicious, juicy, and crunchy dessert at home? Hence, you should definitely have a look at my Zlabia (Easy Jalebi Recipe) that will leave your sweet craving totally satisfied!
Zlabia is a spiral-shaped Iraqi sweet made from basic ingredients like flour, sugar, starch, and yeast. And after the dough is rested, zlabias are deep-fried in oil and dipped in a simple syrup or honey!
These crispy and sugar-coated zlabias are truly addictive and delicious! Trust me, everyone will love such a sweet dessert and even ask for more!
Crispy Zlabia with Simple Syrup
I am sharing with you an easy zlabia recipe that has been in my family for years and it's also one of my favorite desserts! These fried zlabias are crispy, delicious, and will make your sweet craving satisfied to the fullest!
What's So Special about Zlabia?
This recipe is very popular throughout the Middle East and is widely enjoyed by many cultures. It has various names such as Sweet Fritters in Lebanon, Fried Dough in Yemen, Zlabia/Zalabya in Iraq or Jordan, and Jalebi, the Indian version of this popular Middle Eastern treat.
No matter what you call them, in all countries these tasty zlabias are deep-fried and drenched in a sweet syrup! Crunchy golden spirals are scrumptious, juicy, crispy, and definitely a staple at every Middle Eastern house.
Zlabia with Pistachios and Syrup
Why Will You Love This Recipe?
Zlabia is often enjoyed with a cup of milk yoghurt and the combination tastes so good!
It also tastes great with regular milk or a cup of your favorite tea.
Zlabia recipe needs only simple and affordable ingredients! And it's so easy to make even for the beginners!
It's important to note that this special treat is a kid-friendly one!
These zlabias would stay crispy for hours, so you can easily make them in advance.
Hot and freshly homemade zlabias are juicy, aromatic, and so crispy! You'll really love this recipe.
Best Zlabia Dessert
Tips and Tricks for the Best Zlabia
The consistency of zlabia batter shouldn't be too thin or thick, make sure the batter is like a pancake batter.
Also it’s important to stir the dough well after it has risen to get rid of all air bubbles.
While frying zlabia, make sure the flame is on medium because high heat will leave it uncooked from the inside and too crispy on the outside.
Don’t fill out the squeeze bottle all the way up because the dough rises so quickly.
It’s really important to stir the dough before filling up the squeeze bottle to get rid of air bubbles.
You can buy a squeeze bottle on amazon or make one like the one I did in the video.
Such a Colorful Dessert!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You can store zlabias in a well-sealed container or sealable storage bag at room temperature up to 7 days. Also, you can store them in an air-tight container in the fridge for 12 days.
These tasty zlabias would stay crispy for many hours, so you can easily make them in advance.
Just fried zlabias alone have a neutral taste, but the irresistible flavor comes from the crispy batter soaked in a sweet syrup or honey.
Yes, you can use any sweet syrup of your preference: honey, sugar syrup, agave syrup, or maple syrup. But each syrup will give its unique taste to zlabia.
Put your zlabias in the microwave. On high heat, reheat them for about 10-15 seconds. If they're still somewhat cold but crispy, you can try to microwave them for additional 10 seconds.
If the batter is too thick, zlabia will turn soft and saggy. So make sure to have a pancake batter consistency.
Homemade Jalebi Dessert Is Just Perfect!
Ingredients for Zlabia Dessert
Dough Ingredients:
- corn starch
- all-purpose flour
- yeast
- sugar
- baking powder
- salt
- water
- oil for frying
- kunafa coloring if you want to make orange zalabia (optional)
Simple Syrup Ingredients:
- sugar
- water at room temperature
- fresh lemon juice
A Perfect Zlabia Dessert!
Instructions for Zlabia Recipe
How to Make the Batter:
Whisk together corn starch, flour, yeast, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Then mix until well combined.
Gradually add water and keep stirring until all are combined, and the batter is like a pancake batter.
Cover the dough with a plastic wrap and then place it in a warm area for 45 minutes.
Once the dough has risen, use a spatula and stir until no air bubbles are left.
Pour the dough into a squeeze bottle but don’t fill the bottle all the way; also you need to stir the dough every time you fill the squeeze bottle.
Heat the oil on medium heat.
Then gently squeeze the batter out of the bottle into the hot oil, forming a circler pattern that resembles funnel cakes.
Fry on both sides until golden brown.
Then take them out of the oil and dip them in room temperature simple syrup.
Repeat the process until you run out of batter.
How to Make Simple Syrup (Attar):
This simple syrup requires no stirring, so don’t stir your sugar, but carefully pour your sugar in the middle of the pot, then add water and lemon juice.
Cook on high heat for 8 minutes only. Set the timer; otherwise, it can burn or get too thick.
Then remove from the heat immediately. You will notice the syrup will still be runny. But, it will get thicker as it cools down.
After you are done with everything, then it's time to enjoy these super crispy zlabias dipped in a sweet syrup or honey!
Pin This Recipe!
Other Dessert Recipes You Will Enjoy:
- Yummy Crunchy Kunafa Rolls
- Easy No-Bake Lotus Biscoff Cheesecake
- Homemade Luqaimat (Awamat / Lokma)
- Perfect Red Velvet Cookies Using Cake Mix
- Klecha Recipe | Date cookies (كليجة)
- Basbousa with Cream (Hareesa Recipe)
- Whole30 energy balls | Coconut date balls
- Lemon Cookies Using Cake Mix
- Moist Chocolate Cake with Whipped Cream Frosting
- Easy Homemade Ashta Cream (قشطة للحلويات)
If you’ve tried this recipe or any other recipe on Sourandsweets, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience with my recipes. Please share it with me on Instagram.
Zlabia (Easy Jalebi Recipe)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup corn starch
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cup water
- 1 cup oil for frying
- ½ teaspoon kunafa coloring if you want to make orange zalabia (optional)
Simple Syrup:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup water at room temperatue
- 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Whisk together corn starch, flour, yeast, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Mix until well combined.
- Gradually add water and keep stirring until all are combined, and the batter is like a pancake batter.
- Cover the dough with plastic wrap and place it in a warm area for 45 minutes.
- Once the dough has risen, use a spatula and stir until no air bubbles are left.
- Pour the dough into a squeeze bottle, don’t fill the bottle all the way; you need to stir the dough every time you fill the squeeze bottle.
- Heat the oil on medium heat.
- Gently squeeze the batter out of the bottle into the hot oil, forming a circler pattern that resembles funnel cakes.
- Fry on both sides until golden brown.
- Take them out of the oil and dip them in room temperature simple syrup.
- Repeat the process until you run out of batter.
Simple Syrup (Attar)
- This simple syrup requires no stirring, so don’t stir your sugar, but carefully pour your sugar in the middle of the pot, add water and lemon juice.
- Cook on high heat for 8 minutes only. Set the timer; otherwise, it can burn or get too thick.
- Remove from the heat immediately. You will notice the syrup will still be runny. But, it will get thicker as it cools down.
Video
Notes
- It’s important to stir the dough after it has risen to get rid of all air bubbles.
- Don’t fill out the squeeze bottle all the way up; the dough rises so quickly.
- It’s important to stir the dough before filling up the squeeze bottle to get rid of air bubbles.
- You can buy a squeeze bottle on amazon (I have linked one in the recipe card, or make one like the one I did in the video.)
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