Youtiao

Method

1. 1 Mix the flour with the baking powder, baking soda, salt, eggs, milk, and water until you have a soft, sticky dough.
2. 2 This version replaces alum with double baking powder, making it safer while still allowing the dough to rise and become airy.
3. 3 Fold the dough three times 20 minutes apart, then wrap tightly and refrigerate for 12 hours.
4. 4 Roll the dough into strips 1 cm thick, cut them into strips, then place two strips on top of each other and press them lengthwise with a bamboo stick.
5. 5 Deep-fry at 200 degrees Celsius, stirring constantly for 90 seconds until the fritters quadruple in size and turn golden brown.

With an appliance

• Air fryer 40 min

  Change to step 5: brush evenly with oil, then run at 200 degrees for 9 minutes, turning at the 5th minute. The dough sticks will rise less than about one-third, so roll them thinner by 2 mm.