Sfenj: Moroccan Doughnuts

By
Christine Benlafquih
Christine Benlafquih
Christine Benlafquih
Christine Benlafquih is a freelance writer and cooking class instructor with a background in Moroccan cuisine.
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Updated on 09/2/21
Sfenj Moroccan Donuts

Luaeva/Getty Images

 

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Rising Time: 3 hrs
Total: 3 hrs 25 mins
Servings: 4 to 5 servings
Yield: 8 to 10 doughnuts

Sfenj is a fritter-like Moroccan doughnut made from a sticky, unsweetened leavened dough. Once it has risen, handfuls of dough are shaped into rings and deep-fried until golden and crispy with a chewy, fluffy interior. You can dust with sugar, if you like, or simply eat as is. They can be served for breakfast or at tea time; Moroccan mint tea is the typical beverage of choice to enjoy with the doughnuts. 

In Morocco, the task of making sfenj is usually left to street vendors who cook your order on the spot, often using skewers to remove the freshly made sfenj from the oil and tying a few together with a "ribbon" of palm leaf. For an extra crispy texture, some customers request that the cooked doughnuts be flattened or smashed and returned to the oil for a second frying.

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast

  • 1 1/4 warm cups water, divided

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • Vegetable oil, for frying

  • Granulated sugar or confectioners' sugar, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in 1/4 cup of the warm water and set aside to proof for 10 or 15 minutes.

  2. In a large bowl, combine the flour with the salt and the remaining 1 cup warm water. Add the yeast mixture and stir vigorously with your hand or a heavy wooden spoon until smooth. The dough should be too sticky to knead or shape, almost like a thick batter.

  3. Cover the bowl with a towel and leave the dough to rise for 3 to 4 hours, until double or triple in bulk.

  4. In a wide, deep pot, heat 2 to 3 inches of vegetable oil over medium heat until hot.

  5. Set out a bowl of water. Dip your hands in the water, then pull off a piece of dough about the size of a small plum. Use your fingers to make a hole in the ball of dough, stretch the hole wide to make a ring, and place the dough in the hot oil.

  6. Repeat with additional portions of dough until you've added as many sfenj as will fit comfortably in your pot; do not overcrowd. Wet your hands as necessary to keep the dough from sticking as you work with it.

  7. Fry the sfenj until golden brown, turning once or twice. Remove the cooked sfenj to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.

  8. Repeat shaping and frying until you've used up all the dough.

  9. If desired, finish the hot sfenj by dipping in granulated sugar or by dusting with powdered sugar.

  10. Serve the sfenj hot or warm; they lose their texture and appeal when cold. 

  11. Enjoy.

Tips

  • The key to crispy and light doughnuts is making sure you are frying at the right temperature, which is 365 F. It is best to use a deep-fry or candy thermometer to help maintain the temperature and know if you need to raise or lower the heat. It is natural for the oil to drop in temperature right after you add the doughnuts, and for the oil temp to rise over the course of a few batches, so keep your eye on the thermometer.
  • Sfenj is best-enjoyed piping hot or warm, so if they've cooled before serving time, do reheat them briefly in the oven.
  • Although other types of doughnut dough can be left overnight in the refrigerator, sfenj dough will become hard and difficult to work with and may turn sour if chilled.

How to Store

Sfenj will not stay fresh very long at room temperature; it's best to freeze leftover sfenj and then reheat in the oven when needed.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
536 Calories
30g Fat
58g Carbs
8g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 5
Amount per serving
Calories 536
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 30g 39%
Saturated Fat 2g 12%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 428mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 58g 21%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 14mg 1%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 96mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)