Fried dough
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about a particular kind of food that is known by the specific name "Fried dough."
For a comprehensive overview of many different foods that are all made by frying kinds of dough, see Fried dough foods.
 Fried dough |
|
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Alternate name(s) | beaver tails elephant ears frying saucers pizza frita whales tails buñuelos doughboys roadkill |
| Place of origin | Canada |
| Dish details | |
| Course served | Dessert |
| Serving temperature | Warm |
| Main ingredient(s) | Yeast dough |
| Variations | zeppole and Multiple others |
Fried dough is a North American food associated with outdoor food stands in carnivals, amusement parks, fairs, rodeos, and seaside resorts (though it can be made at home). Fried dough is the specific name for a particular variety of fried bread made of a yeast dough; see the accompanying images for an example of use on carnival-booth signage. Fried dough is also known as beaver tails, elephant ears, whales tails, tiger ears, pizza frita, frying saucers , buñuelos in the case of smaller pieces, and in Rhode Island squares of pizza dough that get deep fried and covered in sugar are called doughboys; these foods are virtually identical to each other, and recognizably different from other fried dough foods such as doughnuts, beignets, or fritters.
In Canada, pieces of fried dough are sometimes called BeaverTails. According to Bill Castleman, a writer of books on Canadian word origins, the name referred to quick-baked dough "especially in early 19th-century places where people might camp for one night and where there was no frying pan."[1] Some sources identify beaver tails as a local specialty in Ottawa,[2] where they are associated especially with the city's Winterlude festival, although beaver tails can be purchased in many other Canadian cities as well. BeaverTails is the name (and Canadian trademark) of a chain of restaurants specializing in the item, founded in Ottawa in 1978.[3]
An Italian variant common in North America is zeppole.
[edit] Preparation
Fried dough is made by deep-frying a portion of risen yeast dough. The dough acquires an irregular, bubbly appearance from being fried.
The dough may then be sprinkled with a variety of toppings, such as granulated sugar, powdered sugar, cinnamon, fruit sauce, chocolate sauce, cheese, maple syrup, whipped cream, tomato sauce, garlic butter, Lemon Juice, honey and butter or a combination of more than one of these.
 Fried dough stand |
 Dough being deep-fat fried |
 BeaverTail pastry at Byward Market, Ottawa |
 Beavertail from street vendor in downtown Ottawa |
 Maple/Chocolate variety Bevertail sold from attraction vendor in Moncton, NB |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Bill Castleman. "Canadian Food Words". http://www.billcasselman.com/canadian_food_words/cfw_five.htm. Retrieved on 2006-12-17.
- ^ "Culinary Ottawa". Ottawa Tourism. http://trailfire.com/pages/form.php?aid=check&bubble=33462. Retrieved on 2006-12-17.
- ^ "BeaverTails History". BeaverTails, Inc.. http://www.beavertailsinc.com/en/history.html. Retrieved on 2006-12-17.
- Elephant Ear Recipe baked type.
- Elephant Ear Recipe the kind made at fairs.
- St. Petersburg (Florida) Times article, Distinction between funnel cakes and elephant ears
