Recipes

Bokit

Guadeloupe’s beloved street food starts with this simple fried bread.

  • Serves

    makes five 6-inch rolls

  • Cook

    3 hours

MAURA MCEVOY

By SAVEUR Editors


Published on November 9, 2020

The pillowy, deep-fried bread that is the base for Guadeloupe’s bokit puffs up as it fries, creating a hollow pocket. Be careful not the squeeze the steam out as you remove the bread from the hot oil.

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1¼ tsp. sugar
  • 14 tsp. dry instant yeast
  • 3¾ cups plus 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 2½ tsp. baking powder
  • 1½ tsp. kosher salt
  • 1½ tsp. softened, unsalted butter
  • Corn or canola oil, for frying

Instructions

Step 1

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix together 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of tepid water, sugar, and yeast, stirring until sugar and yeast are dissolved. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt, then mix on low speed until a cohesive (but still shaggy) dough forms, 3-4 minutes. Add the butter and continue mixing on low speed until the dough is very smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes more. Remove the hook, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap, and set aside to rest at room temperature until dough is relaxed and slightly puffed, about 1 hour.

Step 2

Lightly flour a clean work surface and turn the dough out onto it. Divide the dough into five pieces (about 1¼ ounces each) and roll into balls. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to rest for 1 hour more.

Step 3

About fifteen minutes before you’re ready to fry the dough, fit a deep-fry thermometer on a heavy-bottomed pot and add oil to a depth of 2 inches. Preheat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 355°F. Line a large baking sheet with paper towels and set aside.

Step 4

Return to the dough and use a rolling pin to flatten each ball into a 6-inch disk. Working one at a time, fry the disks, turning once as they cook, until evenly golden, 3-3½ minutes. With a pair of tongs, carefully transfer the bokit to the lined baking sheet to drain while you continue frying the remaining dough. With a serrated knife, split the bokit on one side to make a pita-like pocket. Fill with toppings while still the bread is still warm, then serve.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Bokit


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