Snack

Tang Ma Ye'er

糖麻叶儿 • táng má yè er

Ingredients

2 and 1/4 cups flour

1 egg

2 and 1/2 tsp yeast

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup water

3 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp brown sugar

3 tbsp olive oil

2 tsp sesame oil

2 tbsp peanut butter or sesame paste

4-5 cups canola oil

2 tbsp water

Make the Dough

  1. Heat the milk in a small pot to about 100 degrees (about lukewarm temperature).

  2. Remove milk from the heat and add 2 tsp yeast. Let sit for 10-15 minutes. Once the yeast blooms, you'll see bubbles and foam, it's ready to use.

  3. In a mixing bowl, add 2 cups flour, granulated sugar, egg, 2 tbsp olive oil, and milk + yeast. Mix together until the ingredients come together.

  4. Knead the dough for about 2-3 minutes until it's smooth.

  5. Cover the dough and let sit in a warm spot for 45 minutes. We usually heat the oven to 150, turn the oven off, place the dough in the oven, and keep the oven door open a bit.

Make the Brown Sugar Paste

  1. In a small bowl, add 1/4 cup flour, 1/2 tsp yeast, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 2 tsp sesame oil, 2 tbsp of peanut butter or sesame paste, and 2 tbsp water.

  2. Mix the ingredients well until it's thick and set aside.

Make Ma Ye'er

  1. Once the dough has about doubled in size, sprinkle a thin layer of flour on a cutting board and transfer the dough to the board.

  2. Roll the dough out to about a 1/8 inch thick rectangle. I like to trim the edges so that the next steps are easier, but you don't have to!

  3. Cut the slab into 4 long strips.

  4. Spread half of the brown sugar paste onto two strips evenly.

  5. Place each of the other two strips on top of the covered strips.

  6. Cut each strip into 1.5-inch wide rectangles. Cut a slit all the way through the middle of each rectangle.

  7. Take one rectangle. Tuck one end through the slit, and pull it out from the other side.

  8. Repeat Step 7 with the rest of the rectangles.

Fry Ma Ye'er

  1. Heat a wok/deep pan over high heat.

  2. Add 4-5 cups of canola oil to the pan and cover.

  3. Prep a big plate by covering with paper towels.

  4. Once the oil is hot enough to fry (if you dip a wooden utensil in the oil and see bubbles appear around it, it's hot enough), you're ready to start frying!

  5. Lower the heat to medium heat and add 5-6 ma ye'er each round of frying.

  6. Turn the ma ye'er after 1 minute.

  7. After another minute, both sides should be light brown. Transfer the ma ye'er to your plate. Note that as you continue to fry, the oil will get hotter, and it may only take ~30 seconds to brown each side. Just keep an eye on it!

  8. Let cool for 5-10 minutes and then enjoy!