Eight-strand Youtiao (fried dough sticks)

Eight-strand Youtiao

　　Eight-strand Youtiao has a history of over 100 years in Xuzhou. It comes in two shapes: wheel-shaped and oval. The finished product is golden yellow, crispy, fragrant, and evenly textured, hence the name "Eight-strand Youtiao." It was named a "China Famous Snack" in 2000.

　　Making of Eight-strand Youtiao

　　　　A Jiangsu snack. Made from wheat dough. Eight strands are combined and then fried to create the final product. Crispy and fragrant, it has a distinctive shape. With eight dough pieces, it's called "Eight-strand." Ingredients: (for 100 pieces) 5000g flour, 50g baking soda, 100g alum powder, 5000g peanut oil (2500g used), 125g fine salt Preparation: 1. Dissolve the fine salt, baking soda, and alum powder in water, then mix in 325g of warm water. Add the flour and knead until the dough surface is smooth and shiny. Let it rest for 20 minutes. 2. Place the dough on an oiled cutting board, cut it into several pieces. Take one piece, stretch it into a flat strip about 5cm wide, brush with a layer of oil, then cut vertically into strips 5cm long and 17cm wide. Take eight strips, arrange four up and four down, with the oily sides touching, place them in sequence, press each end lightly with your fingers, and stretch the combined strip to 33cm in length. When the oil in the pan is boiling, hold both ends of the strip and swirl it a few times in the oil, then release it. Once the youtiao floats to the surface, separate the stuck strips—four on each side with a hollow center—to form an oval shape. Fry until golden brown, then remove from the oil.