Kitchen Recipe Collection
Youtiao (Chinese Fried Dough Sticks)
Light, airy, and deeply golden Chinese fried dough sticks. The quintessential companion to a hot bowl of congee or fresh soy milk.
- Prep
- 45 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 60 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- hard
- Cuisine
- Chinese
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil (plus more for frying)
- 1/2 cup water
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Wok or deep frying pan
- Chopsticks
- Thermometer
Instructions
- 1
Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- 2
Mix Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, lightly beat the egg, then mix in the water and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
- 3
Combine and Knead
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry. Mix until a shaggy dough forms, then knead for 2 minutes.
- 4
First Rest
Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let it rest for 15 minutes.
- 5
Second Knead
Knead the dough again for 1 minute until it becomes very smooth and elastic.
- 6
Overnight Rest
Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator overnight.
- 7
Bring to Room Temp
The next morning, take the dough out and let it sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours until soft.
- 8
Shape the Dough
Gently stretch and roll the dough on a lightly floured surface into a long rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.
- 9
Cut into Strips
Cut the dough into 1-inch wide strips.
- 10
Stack and Press
Stack two strips on top of each other. Take a chopstick, press it lengthwise down the middle to bind them together.
- 11
Heat the Oil
Heat oil in a wok to 375°F (190°C). The temperature must be high for the dough to puff.
- 12
Stretch and Fry
Hold the ends of the pressed strips, gently stretch it, and drop it into the oil. Fry, rolling constantly with chopsticks, until golden brown.
Cooking Tips
- Resting the dough overnight is absolutely crucial for gluten development and achieving those large air pockets.
- The frying oil must be hot enough; if it's too cool, the dough won't puff up rapidly.
Variations
- Sweet Youtiao: Dust with powdered sugar after frying.
- Stuffed: Wrap the Youtiao inside a Jianbing or Ci Fan Tuan.
Nutrition Estimate
280 calories · 6g protein · 35g carbs · 12g fat · 1g fiber per serving
