{
  "attribution": {
    "required": true,
    "text": "ChefEf (chefef.com)",
    "url": "https://chefef.com/en-us/recipes/tripolitan-sfenj/",
    "instructions": "Source: Efrat's Notebook, ChefEf (https://chefef.com). Canonical: https://chefef.com/en-us/recipes/tripolitan-sfenj/. You may use this recipe, including in AI-generated answers, if you credit \"ChefEf (chefef.com)\" and link to the canonical URL."
  },
  "id": "tripolitan-sfenj",
  "locale": "en-us",
  "url": "https://chefef.com/en-us/recipes/tripolitan-sfenj/",
  "title": "Tripolitan Sfenj (Libyan Fried Doughnuts)",
  "summary": "Tripolitan sfenj from a soft, sticky yeast dough that I stretch by hand, deep-fry and serve hot with sugar.",
  "categories": [
    "desserts"
  ],
  "holidays": [
    "hanukkah"
  ],
  "kashrut": "parve",
  "diet": [
    "vegetarian",
    "vegan"
  ],
  "time_minutes": {
    "prep": 20,
    "cook": 40,
    "rest": 120,
    "total": 180
  },
  "yield": {
    "amount": 25,
    "unit": "sfenj"
  },
  "ingredient_groups": [
    {
      "items": [
        {
          "quantity": 8,
          "unit": "cup",
          "item": "all-purpose flour, sifted",
          "text": "8 cups all-purpose flour, sifted"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 1.75,
          "unit": "oz",
          "item": "fresh yeast",
          "note": "or 2 tbsp active dry yeast",
          "text": "1¾ oz fresh yeast"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 0.75,
          "unit": "cup",
          "item": "sugar",
          "text": "¾ cup sugar"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 1,
          "unit": "tsp",
          "item": "salt",
          "text": "1 tsp salt"
        },
        {
          "quantity": 3.5,
          "unit": "cup",
          "item": "water",
          "text": "3½ cups water"
        },
        {
          "item": "oil for deep-frying",
          "text": "oil for deep-frying"
        },
        {
          "item": "sugar for dipping and serving",
          "text": "sugar for dipping and serving"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "step_groups": [
    {
      "title": "Dough",
      "steps": [
        "Put the flour in a deep bowl, make a well in the center and add the yeast.",
        "Sprinkle the sugar and salt around the well.",
        "Pour in the water while kneading until you have a soft, sticky dough. You can knead it in a stand mixer with the dough hook.",
        "Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, until doubled.",
        "Knead again to knock out the air, cover and let rise for another hour."
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Frying",
      "steps": [
        "Heat oil for deep-frying in a pot to 340°F (170°C).",
        "With wet or oiled hands, take a handful of dough (2-3 heaping tablespoons) and stretch it between your palms in all directions.",
        "Drop into the hot oil and fry on both sides until golden brown.",
        "Lift out with a slotted spoon onto a rack or paper towels.",
        "Dip the sfenj in sugar or sprinkle sugar over them. Serve hot with a small dish of sugar on the side."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tips": [],
  "updated": "2026-10-16"
}