Vietnamese Crullers

Description

Vietnamese quẩy is a deep-fried snack which was inspired by youtiao , a popular Chinese delicacy. Although very similar in preparation and shape to its more popular cousin, quẩy is regarded as a national culinary treasure in Vietnam. Plain flour, leavening agents, salt, water, and sugar create the basic dough, which is left to rest for hours until ready. The snack is created by combining two pieces of dough which are shortly deep-fried until golden brown. The lengthy preparation procedure should result in a delicacy which puffs in contact with oil and slightly separates to resemble two individual sticks that are connected in the middle. Quẩy comes in all sizes, but a prerequisite for each serving is a crunchy exterior and a soft, slightly hollow center. In Vietnam, people enjoy it as a street food item, commonly combining it with rice porridge, pho, papaya dipping sauce, or noodles. It can be served whole and plain, but it is often cut into smaller pieces when served as an accompaniment to other dishes. Quẩy is regarded as cheap and satisfying comfort food, enjoyed by people of all ages, but it is especially popular among Vietnamese students. Because it is always freshly prepared and served hot, it is usually associated with the winter period, but can be found all year round. Similar youtiao variations are common in many Southeast Asian countries.