Easy Meshabek (Fried Sweet Ribbons)

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 cups cornstarch
• 2 cups lukewarm water
• 1 tsp yeast
• Oil for frying
• Syrup (Qater):
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• A splash of orange blossom water
• Lemon juice
• (Red version) a drop of red food coloring
• Syrup instructions:
• Recipe for easy meshabek contributed by a friend and cook on Shou Tabkhin Alyoum:
• Rasmiyyeh Majdoub
• Click Rasmiyyeh’s name to visit her profile on our site and discover her wonderful recipes
• For more of Rasmiyyeh’s great recipes see: Cake with Ice Cream Biscuits

Method

1. Whisk all batter ingredients together and let the batter ferment.
2. After fermentation, stir the batter again and pour it into a jug or any container with a small spout.
3. Shape the meshabek into the hot oil while frying by pouring the batter in a lacy circular motion.
4. Fry the meshabek in plenty of hot oil until golden.
5. After removing from the oil, dip the pieces into cold syrup, then lift them out and drain.
6. Dip the tips of the meshabek pieces in the red syrup for decoration.
7. Combine the syrup ingredients in a pot and bring to the boil.
8. When the syrup boils for about 5 minutes, remove from heat.
   Timers: 5 min
9. Reserve a portion of the syrup in a separate bowl and add a drop of red food coloring to it.