Tortas fritas – Uruguayan fried dough

Ingredients

• 500 g plain flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 60 g melted lard or butter
• 2.5 dl lukewarm water
• 7 dl neutral oil for deep-frying
• 2 tbsp sugar for sprinkling, optional

Method

1. 1Mix flour, salt and baking powder. Add fat and water and knead for 5 minutes into a smooth dough.
2. 2Cover and rest for 20 minutes. Divide into 12 pieces and roll into rounds about 12 cm wide. Make a small hole in the centre.
3. 3Heat oil to 175 °C in a deep pot. Fry one or two cakes at a time for about 1–2 minutes per side until golden.
4. 4Drain on kitchen paper. Sprinkle with sugar if desired and serve warm.