Mekitsa - Bulgarian Fried Doughnuts#EattheWorld

Last year  on our trip to Bulgaria we visited  the Rila Monastery which  is on the slopes of Rila, the highest Balkan Peninsula Mountain, in the valley of the Rilska River. 

It was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic complex which played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. 

Destroyed by fire at the beginning of the 19th century, the complex was rebuilt between 1834 and 1862. A characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th–19th centuries), the monument symbolizes the awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries of occupation.

This monastery is so beautiful inside.

We had our lunch  at the  monastery and for tea we enjoyed these Mekitsa -  Bulgarian Fried Doughnuts.  They served us with a dusting of icing sugar.  

Since here it's a season of mangoes, paried them with chopped mangoes and the combo was simply divine. 

These also can be had with jam, honey or any soft cheese, for your breakfast or as dessert with different toppings of your choice.
Ingredients
1¾ Cups All purpose flour
1 Egg
2 Tablespoons Yogurt

5 Grams Fresh Yeast
Oil for deep frying¼ Teaspoon Salt

1 Tablespoon Heaped Granulated Sugar
Water  as required 

Method

In a small bowl add the yeast , ¼ cup warm water, a tablespoon of flour and sugar.  Let is sit covered for 15 minutes till the yeast starts to froth. 
Take the flour in a large bowl, add the egg,  yogurt and the yeast mixture. Mix all well, then add water a tablespoon at a time and knead it into a soft and smooth dough. Cover and keep aside for an hour or till it doubles in volume.

Make medium sized balls from the dough. Now oil your hands generously.

With oiled fingers, shape the dough balls as round shape by stretching it with your hands.

Heat oil for deep frying, fry the doughnuts in medium flame until they turns golden brown.

Dust them with icing sugar and serve hot with your favorite topping. We enjoyed them with chopped Alphonso mango.

Labels: Bulgaria, Doughnuts, Fried, Eat the World, Breads, Breakfast, Snack 

Check out all the wonderful Bulgarian dishes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Click here to find out how to join and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us!
 Pandemonium Noshery: Bulgarian Sausage Stew
Sneha’s Recipe: Mekitsa - Bulgarian Fried Doughnuts
Sara’s Tasty Buds: Gevrek
Culinary Adventures with Camilla: Patatnik + 2016 Edoardo Miroglio Bio Mavrud & Rubin
Amy’s Cooking Adventures: Koledna Pitka (Bulgarian Christmas Bread)
Making Miracles: Gyuveche
Kitchen Frau: Patatnik (Bulgarian Potato Pie)
Dinner By Dennis: Kebapche (Bulgarian Grilled Kebabs)