Mexican Churros

Have you ever had Mexican Churros before? I hadn't, until a couple of hours ago. They are the coolest thing, much like a doughnut but in convenient stick form. Crisp and crunchy on the outside, and soft and tender on the inside. They are traditionally served with Mexican hot chocolate, but I like them with espresso. Actually, the best thing to pair with a churro is another churro. One in each hand. I ate four in one sitting, they are seriously addictive.

Rick says the cinnamon is optional, but I can't imagine them without it. And the fact that you can make the dough ahead of time and let it sit out in the pot until you feel like frying them up - absolutely perfect.

Don't just take my word for it, make some churros this weekend!

Churros
Created by Chef Rick Bayless
from his book Mexico, One Plate at a Time
for I♥CC, Sweet Tooth
Online recipe featured on Oprah.com, Jannuary 01, 2006

Celebrated Chef Rick Bayless shares his recipe for Mexican Churros, crunchy fluted fritters that he says are his weakness…but only when they're served warm.

Servings: Makes 12 to 14 5-inch churros

Ingredients

    2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    1 tablespoon sugar , plus 2/3 cup to roll the churros in
    Salt
    1 cup (4 1/2 ounces)   all-purpose flour
    Vegetable oil to a depth of 1 inch, for frying
    1/2 teaspoon cinnamon , preferably freshly ground Mexican canela (optional)

These are actually crisp, the curved one was cooked in the curve of the pan.

 Directions
In a medium-small (2-quart) saucepan, combine the oil, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt with 1 cup water. Set over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and add flour all at once, stirring vigorously until mixture forms into a thick, smooth-textured ball. Let cool in the pan.

When you're ready to eat the churros, heat oil in a large pan (Chef Bayless prefers a heavy pan or cast-iron skillet that's about 9 inches across and 3 inches deep) over medium to medium-high heat to about 375° (the oil will shimmer on the surface and smell like hot oil).

Scoop the dough into a churrera , a cookie press fitted with a 3/8-inch fluted opening or a heavy-duty (canvas-type) pastry bag fitted with a 3/8-inch star tip. Holding your pressing apparatus a few inches above the hot oil, press out a 5-inch length of dough—the end will dangle into the oil—then pull it free from the press with your fingertips. Cook this one churro, turning occasionally, until it is deep golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes if the oil temperature is right. Remove it to drain on paper towels, let it cool a minute, then break it open to check for doneness—it should be just a little soft inside (but not doughy). Too low an oil temperature and the churros will take a long time to color, usually bursting apart before they're brown; too high a temperature and they'll brown quickly but not cook through.

Press out and fry the churros 4 or 5 at a time, draining each batch on paper towels. Spread the 2/3 cup sugar over the bottom of a baking pan and mix in optional cinnamon. Roll churros luxuriously in sugar mixture while they're still warm. They're ready to enjoy.

Bite?