Churros

This recipe for Spanish churros is exactly the same as the recipe used here in Spain. Simply add sugar to your churros or some thick Spanish drinking chocolate (chocolate a la taza) for a fabulous Spanish breakfast!

Ingredients: (Makes one large plate full)

Olive Oil for frying
1 cup water
1/2 cup butter
pinch of salt
1 cup plain flour
3 eggs

How to prepare:

1.   Place water, butter and salt into a large saucepan and heat until it just begins to bubble.

2.   Reduce the heat and add the flour stirring continuously until you get a smooth mixture.

3.   Add the eggs (already beaten) to the pan and continue to stir until the mixture resembles a smooth, thick batter.

4.   Heat the olive oil in a large deep frying pan and when it is hot, just before smoking, you are ready to cook the churros.

5.   Spoon the mixture into your churro maker and squeeze about 3 strips at a time into the hot oil.  Cook for 2 minutes on each side until golden brown drain on kitchen paper and repeat for the next batch.

Traditional Churros

Churros can be purchased all over Spain and are traditionally made outside of Spanish coffee bars and in catering vans usually pitched at local markets. The “churrera” is the piece of equipment used to hold the freshly mixed batter, the mixture is poured into the churrera and then forced out via a nozzle using a large wooden plunger directly into the hot oil.

The process is carried out using a large degree of skill and is very quick! Large swirls of batter are poured into the fryer, removed a few moments later then chopped up using scissors into six inch lengths before the churros are served in paper.

Most Spanish coffee bars will have churros being made, usually all morning directly outside the front doors. These bars are where you can order “Chocolate a la taza” the thick Spanish drinking chocolate which can be served hot or cold. It is said that if your churros stand up in the chocolate without falling to the side of the cup then the mixture is perfect!

Sugar or chocolate – the choice is yours.