Buñelos Aga

Buñelos Aga

Buñelos Aga is a traditional Hispanic-influenced New Mexican fritter, crisp outside and tender within, scented with cinnamon and anise and studded with sweet banana.

Prep

15 min

Cook

20 min

Total

35 min

Serves

4

Difficulty

Easy

Recipe ingredients

• •300 g (2½ cups) all-purpose flour
• •15 g (1 tbsp) baking powder
• •5 g (1 tsp) ground cinnamon, Mexican canela preferred
• •3 g (¾ tsp) anise seed, lightly crushed
• •2 g (½ tsp) fine salt
• •75 g (⅓ cup) granulated sugar, plus 60 g (⅓ cup) for the cinnamon-sugar coating
• •240 ml (1 cup) whole milk, warm, about 38 °C / 100 °F
• •2 whole (2 large) eggs, lightly beaten
• •30 ml (2 tbsp) unsalted butter, melted
• •5 ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract
• •200 g (7 oz (about 2 small)) ripe banana, mashed; ripe with brown speckles for sweetness
• •10 g (2 tsp) ground cinnamon, for the coating
• •750 ml (3 cups) neutral frying oil, vegetable or canola; home kitchens lack a true deep fryer, so use a heavy 25 cm / 10-inch pot no more than half full

Steps

1. 1 Stir the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, anise seed, salt and 75 g (⅓ cup) sugar in a large bowl.
2. 2 In a second bowl whisk the warm milk, eggs, melted butter and vanilla, then fold in the mashed banana.
3. 3 Pour the wet mixture into the dry and stir just until a smooth, thick batter forms; do not overmix.
4. 4 Heat the oil in a heavy pot to 175 °C / 350 °F using a deep-fry or instant-read thermometer; maintain this temperature throughout cooking.
5. 5 Drop the batter by heaping tablespoons (about 30 g / 1 oz each) into the hot oil, frying 4 to 5 at a time so the oil temperature stays steady.
6. 6 Fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side, turning once, until deeply golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature of the center reaches at least 96 °C / 205 °F on an instant-read thermometer).
7. 7 Lift the buñuelos out with a slotted spoon and drain briefly on a wire rack set over a tray.
8. 8 Toss the hot buñuelos in the remaining 60 g (⅓ cup) sugar mixed with 10 g (2 tsp) cinnamon until evenly coated.
9. 9 Serve immediately while crisp, optionally with a drizzle of honey or a side of warm chocolate sauce.