Luqaimat (Gulf date syrup dumplings)
Crisp golden dough balls with a soft middle, scented with cardamom and soaked in sticky date syrup.
- Time1 hr 30
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.43 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Mix the flour, cornflour, sugar, yeast, cardamom and salt in a large bowl. Add the saffron and its water, then the warm water, and beat for 2 minutes into a thick, sticky batter like very soft dough.
- 2
Cover and leave somewhere warm for 1 hour, until bubbly and almost doubled.
60 min - 3
Heat the oil in a deep pan to 180C, or until a drop of batter sizzles and rises straight away. Keep a small bowl of cold water by the hob.
- 4
Wet your hand and a teaspoon. Scoop up a ball of batter the size of a walnut and drop it into the oil. Fry 6 or 7 at a time for 3 to 4 minutes, turning, until deep golden.
4 min - 5
Lift out with a slotted spoon onto kitchen paper. Pile into a warm dish while you finish the rest.
- 6
Drizzle with the date syrup, scatter with sesame seeds and serve straight away while still crisp.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.