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What is a beignet? How do you pronounce beignet? Doesn’t this picture make you want to know the answer?
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I’m going to go ahead and admit that before I started food blogging I led a pretty sheltered life. There were so many recipes, so many ingredients, so many types of food that I had never heard of. Food blogging has seriously opened up a whole new world for my family and me.
That being said, the first time I see a recipe or read about a food, I don’t always know what the heck is going on. Or, you know, how to pronounce things. Beignets, for example, are one of those foods I had never heard of and I certainly didn’t know how to pronounce the word “beignet” the first time I stumbled across them on the web.
Bay-nets, I called them. Baynets.
I am here to tell you that beignet is actually pronounced ben-yay. Duh.
Now that I know how to correctly pronounce the name of these deep fried little square pieces of heaven, I figure it’s time I share the knowledge with the world.
Beignet deliciousness in your home
These are basically just square donuts with no holes. They are coated in powdered sugar and they are delicious. I halved the recipe (full recipe shown below) and there were more than enough donuts for my kids and me to eat for lunch.
Yes. I said lunch. Don’t judge me.
Not the donut recipe you were looking for? How about canned biscuit donuts, apple cider donuts, pumpkin donuts, nutella filled sugar donuts, krispy kreme copy cat donuts, or sugar donut muffins? I’m the donut queen, y’all.
Beignets
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 envelope 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 7 cups bread flour
- 1/4 cup shortening
- Nonstick spray
- Oil for deep-frying
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Mix the water, sugar, and yeast in the bowl of your stand mixer and let sit for 10 minutes.
- In another bowl, beat the eggs, salt and evaporated milk together. Add the egg mixture to the yeast mixture.
- Add 3 cups of flour to the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add the shortening and continue to mix on low while adding the remaining flour. Increase the speed and knead dough until smooth.
- Put the dough into a greased bowl and cover with a towel. Let rise in a warm place for 2 hours.
- Pour about 3 inches of oil into a large skillet and heat over medium heat to 350 degrees.
- Add the powdered sugar to a paper bag or large bowl and set aside.
- Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thick and cut into 1-inch squares. Deep-fry, flipping the dough often, until they become a golden color.
- Remove from the oil and drain them for a few seconds in a paper towel lined dish.
- Toss the beignets into the bag or bowl of powdered sugar and toss to coat.
- Continue frying until all donuts are done.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
recipe from Paula Deen
grace says
at least you didn’t say big-nets or something silly like that. 🙂 when i’m unsure of a pronunciation, i just point and grunt. 🙂
Amy @ The Savvy Kitchen says
Oh my word. I’m giving these a try ASAP! They look so good!
Barbara says
I’ve had the real thing in NOLA and thought I’d go to heaven on the spot. Have never attempted to make them at home, but these look fabulous!
Deborah says
I hear ya – there is a lot I didn’t know, too. Like quinoa. I still say that one wrong sometimes!!
Joanne says
I’m pretty sure I said “ben-yets” for a really, really long time. Then I heard someone ELSE say it. The right way. Oops.
I approve of these for lunch. There’s no way I’d be able to resist, either.
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says
I just love these little puffs of deliciousness
Jenny says
the ONLY reason i knew how to pronounce them was from watching “Princess and the Frog”.
Katrina says
Hello beautiful! Loooove these!
Debbie says
P.S. The “not the donut recipe you were looking for” blurb at the bottom of the page got me wondering. Nutella-filled beignets? Is it a thing? Don’t make me buy a third bag of bread flour.
Karly says
Debbie, I see no reason for it not to be a thing. You might wanna get that third bag of flour.
Debbie says
Coincidentally, I just opened a bag of bread flour this weekend and only used 5 tablespoons. Coincidentally, I forgot that I already had an unopened bag of bread flour, so I bought another one at the beginning of the weekend. I think I’ve just discovered the way I’ll be using the ten pounds of bread flour (minus 5 tablespoons) in my kitchen.
Rachel - A Southern Fairytale says
I LOVE Beignets.. I’ll have to get some when I’m in NOLA in a few weeks.
Looks delicious and gorgeous and all things wonderful!
mrsblocko says
these look like a wonderful lunch! I always thought they were pronounced beg-nays. hehehe!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl says
I’ve been pestering my husband about taking a trip to New Orleans *just so I can have some beignets.* Okay, maybe they aren’t the ONLY reason I want to go, but making them at home is certainly a more afforable alternative. 🙂 I’ll have to give this recipe a try.
Jessica says
Ohhh yes! Beignets rock my world!
Cookbook Queen says
Leave it to you to master one of my all time favorite things!!! Every time I’m in New Orleans, Beignets are at the top of my list!!
I’ve tried to make them at home, but I don’t want to talk about how that went. Maybe I’ll get up the courage to try your recipe.