Celebrating Eid with Binangkal – the Filipino version of Middle Eastern Leqaimat

Binangkals are deep-fried dough ball coated with sesame seeds and originates from the Philippines. They are quite similar to the regional favourite Leqaimats which are traditionally consumed during Iftar in the holy month of Ramadan, but less sweet.

Eid Mubarak! I am sharing Lady M’s recipe of binangkal that I recently shared with Khaleej Times. Binangkals, according to me, are the Filipino version of Middle Eastern Leqaimats. In the Philippines, binangkals are popular munchies with tea and coffee and sold at roadside stalls and regular bakeries. Lady M has been living with us for for more than 12 years now. Over the years she has learnt to cook Bengali and Indian food from the internet and my cookbooks and makes the most delicious dishes from all over the world. She has also introduced a lot of Filipino food in our Bengali kitchen. The recipe proportion she follows here is gathered over the internet and from her friend who works in a bakery. I felt that binagkal would be a fitting tribute to the essence of not only the holy month of Ramadan culminating with the Eid celebrations but also living in the UAE, a melting pot of so many different nationalities.

Dubai and the UAE has been our adopted home for the last two decades and now the time has come for us to relocate. Lady M is also moving into another loving family. We are grateful to have her in our lives – she’s been an integral part of our family, another mother to the Z-Sisters, my partner in all our kitchen experiments. We once made a Bengali and Filipino fusion dessert, which is still one of our favourites of all times. No bidding goodbyes please … may we continue celebrating togetherness, cherished memories, inspired food stories, a mishmash of cultures and cuisines wherever we are – with leqaimats and binangkals!

Unblogging it all… Ishita

Dessert recipes that you might like making for Eid: 
Semaiya Kheer or Vermicelli Pudding
Firni or Ferni - The broken rice pudding
Moong Daaler Payesh or Yellow Lentil Pudding

Binangkal

• Time: 45mins
• Difficulty: easy
• Print

Category=Bread and Dessert; Cuisine=Filipino

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup sugar, powdered
¼ cup corn starch
½ tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
½ cup cream
1 egg
1 tbsp white oil
2 cups white sesame seeds, for coating
white oil, for deep frying (you will require generous amount)

Method

• In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, corn starch, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, combine cream, egg, oil and stir well.
• Add the above mixture into the flour mixture and mix it until it forms a smooth dough.
• Take palmfuls of dough to roll into smooth balls, with slightly greased hands.
• Coat with sesame seeds.
• Deep fry until golden. Drain the Binangkals on paper towel to soak the excess oil.
• Serve hot or cold.

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