Half baked Chanukah

The dough felt a bit dry and dense, so I had my doubts as to how it would turn out. As it was cold in my kitchen I hurried the process along a little with this hack: put a shot glas or small bowl of water in your microwave and heat for a couple of minutes on high — it will fill with steam and warm the microwave interior, for perfect dough rising conditions. I then put the bowl of rising dough inside and left it to do its stuff — with the glass still inside.

Once risen, the dough had to be rolled flat, and cut into 5cm circles. These dough patties sat on the greased air fryer tray, were brushed with more oil — still less than they'd suck up in a deep fat bath — and proved for 30 minutes. They then went into the air fryer to bake for about five minutes before being dusted in cinnamon-laced icing sugar.

Also in the interests of fat reduction, I cooked my latkes (using the normal potato/onion mixture) in the air fryer. I did mist them with oil as they were looking dry and dusty. I cooked a second tray in the oven, also misted with frying oil. 

The verdict? Disappointing.

My daughter actually preferred her less greasy latkes, but for me, both doughnuts and latkes were meh. I ended up throwing the last of the latkes in the bin, as I didn't think they were worth even the reduced calorie count. 

Chanukah is about oil! I'd rather eat just one gorgeous, greasy, golden latke and a sweet, sugar-coated doughnut oozing with custard. So no more Chanukah grinch — I'm indulging in the real deal and enjoying it with gelt and not guilt. And then it's back to winter salads — drizzled with a gorgeous, shiny extra virgin olive oil.