Crispy fried dough twists

Crispy fried dough twists

　　　　Crispy fried dough twists are a common variety of Beijing’s halal snacks. These crispy twists can be found not only in Beijing but also in southern China, with largely the same shapes and textures. In addition to crispy fried dough twists, Beijing also offers sesame twists, deep-fried noodle twists, and honey-glazed twists. As a poem in *A Hundred Verses on the Foods of the Old Capital* goes: “Fried dough twists and sesame cakes of the capital city, in countless varieties you may freely glut—delicious, affordable, available everywhere, all year round, morning till night.”

　　To make crispy fried dough twists, first dissolve brown sugar, baking soda, and oil in twice the amount of water, then mix in the flour until evenly combined. Another method uses alum, alkaline flour, brown sugar, osmanthus sugar, and flour to form the dough. Once the dough is made, knead in warm water, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rest for 10 minutes.