I know, I know. It's the first week of the new year, and we're all focused on making amends for all of the indulgences we ate and drank during the holiday season and throughout 2024 and every day of our lives until now....
And here we are making donuts! But my apology is made with this: Christian Lebanese, from which I descend on both sides, my mother (Maronite) and my father (Melkite), mark the religious feasts of the year with incredibly good food (they're called "feast days" for a reason!).
I especially love the tradition of the Epiphany (Jan. 6), a word which derives from the Greek "to show," and refers to the showing of Jesus to the world (or, biblically, to the three kings). Our people, God love them, somewhere deep in the heart of the birth of tradition, said: how about we celebrate with donuts?!
And why not a donut in the shape of a little ball, to symbolize hope and gratitude for coming full circle, and health/prosperity/all good things hoped for in the New Year?
And why not glaze that donut with flower water syrup?
My deep dive on all things Lebanese yeasted doughs in recent months has instructed me that there are several of versions of zalabia, from very simple sugared fried dough (find that recipe here) to squiggly crunchy syrup-dipped treats, to this donut-hole style.
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