Picarones Peruanos

Directions

  1. 1Peel the camote and cut it into smaller pieces.
  2. 2Cook the camote in a small pot with water and cinnamon sticks.
  3. 3Cut the zapallo into small pieces for easier cooking.
  4. 4Activate the dry yeast by adding warm water and mixing well. Let it rest for 8-10 minutes at room temperature.
  5. 5After 6 minutes of cooking the camote, add the zapallo to the pot.
  6. 6For the honey, cut the chancaca (panela) into smaller pieces to help it melt faster.
  7. 7Place the chancaca in a small pot and add approximately one cup of water.
  8. 8Add half a glass of orange juice, cinnamon, star anise, clavo de olor, and fig leaves to the chancaca pot.
  9. 9Boil the chancaca mixture for 35-40 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent it from overflowing.
  10. 10Once the camote and zapallo are cooked, drain all the excess water and reserve the cooking water.
  11. 11Remove the cinnamon sticks from the cooked camote and zapallo.
  12. 12Mash the camote and zapallo until pureed.
  13. 13Add the activated yeast to the camote and zapallo mash.
  14. 14Add two cups of unprepared flour.
  15. 15Gradually add the reserved cooking water from the camote and zapallo, mixing well.
  16. 16Add about half a tablespoon of anise grains and knead the dough very well.
  17. 17Cover the dough with a small white rag and let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
  18. 18Heat oil for deep frying.
  19. 19Dip your hands in water with salt to prevent the dough from sticking.
  20. 20Grab a small portion of dough and form it into a ring shape (arito).
  21. 21Place the dough rings into the hot oil.
  22. 22Use a stick (like a sushi stick) to help prevent the middle part of the picaron from closing while frying.
  23. 23Turn the picarones over with the stick to ensure even browning.
  24. 24Once the picarones are golden brown, remove them from the oil and place them in a strainer to drain excess fat.
  25. 25Serve the picarones on a plate with plenty of the prepared honey (miel).

Ingredients

  • camote
  • zapallo
  • canela
  • 8 g dry yeast
  • warm water
  • chancaca (panela)
  • 1 cup water
  • 0.5 glass orange juice
  • star anise
  • clavo de olor
  • fig leaves
  • 2 cups unprepared flour
  • 0.5 tbsp anise grains
  • oil for deep frying
  • water with salt

Equipment

cacerolacoladorpotato pressertool for mashingsmall white ragpalitosushi stickplate

Tips

  • Always move the chancaca syrup while boiling to prevent it from overflowing.
  • Use water with salt on your hands to prevent the dough from sticking when forming the picarones.
  • Support the picarones with a stick while frying to keep the middle part from closing.