Date and Cardamom Oliebollen with Honey-Orange Syrup (Dutch × Middle Eastern)

Method

1. Pour the milk into a 14 cm pot and warm it over low heat for 1 min until lukewarm, about 37 °C. Off the heat, stir in the yeast and sugar and leave for 5 minutes.

   Add in this stepMilk 125 mlInstant dried yeast 3 gSugar 10 g

   low heat

2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt and cardamom, pour in the milk mixture and the egg, and beat hard with a wooden spoon for 4 min, until smooth and elastic: the batter should stretch in sticky strands when you lift the spoon. Fold in the chopped dates.

   Add in this stepPlain flour 125 gSalt ¼ tspEgg (beaten, then measured) ½Ground cardamom ½ tspDates, stoned and finely chopped 50 g

3. Cover and leave somewhere warm for 1 h, until doubled and bubbly.

4. Meanwhile, make the syrup. Finely grate the orange zest and squeeze the juice. Put the honey, orange juice and zest and the water in a small 14 cm pan and simmer over medium heat for 4 min, until slightly syrupy. Turn off the heat and keep warm.

   Add in this stepHoney 3 tbspOrange (zest and juice) ½Water 2 tbsp

   medium heat

5. Pour the oil into a deep 20 cm pot, at least 5 cm deep but no more than one third of the pot's height, and heat over high heat for about 9 min, to 175 °C: a drop of batter should float up at once with lively bubbles. Keep wet utensils away, turn the pot handle inwards and keep a lid within reach. If the oil smokes, turn off the heat.

   Add in this stepOil for frying (e.g. sunflower) 1 L

   high heat

6. Using two oiled spoons, drop in tablespoons of batter (about 20 g, the size of a walnut) close to the surface of the oil. Fry 8 to 10 at a time, in 2 batches, for 4 min per batch over medium-high heat, rolling them with a slotted spoon until deep golden all over. Break one from the first batch open to check it is cooked through. Drain briefly.

   medium-high heat

7. Tip the hot balls into a bowl with the warm syrup and roll them to coat. Pile onto a plate, scatter with the chopped pistachios and sesame and serve straight away.

   Add in this stepUnsalted pistachios, chopped 20 gToasted sesame seeds 1 tsp