Kitchen Recipe Collection
Youtiao (Chinese Fried Dough Sticks)
The ultimate Chinese breakfast accompaniment. Immensely airy, crispy, and savory deep-fried dough sticks, perfect for dipping into warm soy milk or congee.
- Prep
- 480 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 490 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- hard
- Cuisine
- Chinese
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- Cooking oil for deep frying
Equipment
- Large wok or deep fryer
- Chopsticks
- Plastic wrap
Instructions
- 1
Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- 2
Prepare Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk the water, egg, and 1 tbsp of oil until combined.
- 3
Combine Dough
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Mix until a shaggy dough forms. Do not over-knead.
- 4
Rest Dough
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest for 20 minutes to hydrate the flour.
- 5
Fold Dough
Instead of kneading, gently fold the dough over itself a few times. Brush with a little oil.
- 6
Rest Overnight
Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. This long rest is essential for the airy texture.
- 7
Shape Dough
The next morning, let the dough sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Pat it into a long rectangle.
- 8
Cut Strips
Cut the rectangle into strips about 1 inch wide and 4 inches long.
- 9
Stack and Press
Stack two strips on top of each other. Press a chopstick down the center lengthwise to bind them.
- 10
Heat Oil
Heat at least 2 inches of oil in a wok to 375°F (190°C).
- 11
Stretch and Fry
Gently stretch the stacked dough strip and lower it into the oil. Roll it continuously with chopsticks so it puffs up evenly.
- 12
Drain and Serve
Fry until golden brown and crispy. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately with warm soy milk.
Cooking Tips
- Do not knead the dough vigorously. Over-developing the gluten will result in dense, tough sticks instead of light, hollow ones.
- The oil must be very hot (375°F). If it is too cold, the dough will not puff up instantly.
Variations
- Sweet Youtiao: Dust the freshly fried sticks with powdered sugar.
- Mini Youtiao: Cut the strips much smaller for bite-sized snacks.
Nutrition Estimate
280 calories · 5g protein · 30g carbs · 15g fat · 1g fiber per serving
