Yo-Yo (or Yoo-Yoo) – Not your Everyday Doughnut
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Loading... - tobby david
- 04 Oct 2022
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The story of Hanukkah reminds us yet of another history lesson about the importance of tolerance between religions and cultures. So instead of one culture forcing itself on another, I’d like to see how food can bring us together. Here is a take on people and cultures – we are so different yet we are so similar.
This example is about our similarities in cravings and taste: Do we really have to talk about how oil or fat in our food helps everything taste so good, and how fried food in particular makes sure we feel comforted and happy?! Now add to it sugar and carb and you got yourself a pretty ecstatic combo.
Looks to me like many cultures have already made this discovery of happiness recipe in the shape of a doughnut:
“Thank you” America for the ‘Dunkins’ and the ‘Krispy Kremes’, I could watch the journey of a doughnut behind a glass wall for a whole day, while eating a soft glazed doughnut or a Boston Cream one. “Merci” French culture for the lovely Beignets – square shaped (like in New Orleans) or any shape with the extra powdered sugar on top… “Grazie” Italians for little bites of heaven named Zeppole and for Bombolones filled with all sorts of goodness. “Gracias” Spanish culture for giving us the long lasting Churros… I could go on and on…
Growing up in Israel, we had ‘Sufganiyot’ – medium to large sized yeast doughnut usually filled with strawberry jam. Throughout the years it has been fun watching the Israeli character comes to play in doughnuts as well… You see, Israelis got to keep moving, they have to discover, invent and create new things ALL the time.
You can totally see it in Sufganiyot – Israelis keep inventing the doughnut.
It is so much fun looking at bakeries in Israel during the months of November and December …through the glass vitrines you can see colorful creations and I am not sure anymore if I can even call them doughnuts… flavors such as pistachio and Halva, passion fruit and mango cream… toppings of popping candy and meringue kisses with special tube attached that you can squeeze in your choice of filling just at the right moment before your first bite.
Tunisian Yo Yo are my Hanukkah tradition. They are small fried cookies with an interesting “cakish” texture and citrusy glaze that gives them a really light and unique taste. My Savta (grandma) made Yo-Yos and coated them with dry ground coconut. She made them not just on Hanukkah, but also on other occasions that required something “tunisianly sweet” … I love keeping up with the tradition and make them especially on Hanukkah for my family and friends.
You will need:
2 Eggs
½ cup Sugar
½ cup Canola Oil
½ cup Orange Juice (freshly squeezed)
Zest of 1 Orange
550 gr. Flour (about 3 cups but please WEIGH!)
2 tsp. Baking Powder
Canola oil for deep-frying
For the Syrup (‘Asal’):
2 cups Sugar
¼ cup Lemon Juice (freshly squeezed)
1 cup Water
1/2 tsp. Rose Water / 2 DROPS Rose extract
