Churros con chocolate / Churros and Chocolate Sauce

Spain became World Cup 2010 soccer champions with single goal against Netherlands. Spain will remain as world champions until next soccer cup in 2014 in Brazil. Initially I was not a fan of Spain, my favorite team was Argentina, and however, they had a pathetic defeat against Germany. Then I started noticing the games of Spain, they are the team with less mistakes and very low fouls, however in the final match, both teams where fouling each other. My hubby told me that Netherlands was going to win, I told no, Spain is .May be I am with Paul the psychic octopus who predicted the Spanish win. In order to celebrate the win I made churros.

Churros are the Spanish street sweet pastry usually consumed with thick chocolate sauce or pudding. I am a fan of street food, I feel every country has their signature street food or snacks. Next in line was to search for recipes to make them at home. I have seen one recipe by Minimalist Mark Bittman . I like his recipe’s as usually they are fail proof. Then there are recipes for this dish at some Spanish food blogs also. I found that in authentic Spanish churros, eggs and cinnamon are not added. In order to make this dish they use a special device similar to our murrku acchu for making churros. So I used my murruku acchu. I know pressing murruku with murruku acchu means you need to be a body builder; otherwise it is a tedious job. I asked my hubby to do one time pressing of churros into the oil; he did it for me and told me how hard it is. I added one egg into my churros recipe instead of adding 3 eggs for 1 cup flour mentioned by Mark Bittman . I also dusted some churros with confectioner’s sugar. In addition I also made a chocolate sauce to go with it. I made the chocolate sauce similar to french spiced chocolate Xocopili. I used 90 % dark coca chocolate with chili powder, cumin powder, cloves, powdered sugar and milk. 

Churros came really good, even though mine was not able to get the fluted shape and it tastes really good. You can have even just like that without any sauce. Here goes the recipe.

What you need

For Churros

Bread flour/All purpose flour: 1 cup
Unsalted butter: 3 tablespoon
Sugar: 1 tablespoon
Confectioner sugar: 2 tablespoons
Egg: 1no
Salt : 1/8 teaspoon
Water: 1 cup
Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon (optional)
Water: 1 cup
Canola oil: 4 cup (for frying)



For chocolate sauce

 Lindt dark Chocolate (90% cocoa): 4 pieces
Milk: ¼ cup
Powdered sugar: 1 tablespoon
Chili powder: 1/8 teaspoon
Cumin powder: 1/8 teaspoon
Cloves: 2 no
Cornstarch: ¼ teaspoon






How I made 

Churros

Add 4 cup oil in a deep skillet or sauce pan to come to a depth of at 2 inches and heat to about 350 degree Fahrenheit.

In a sauce pan combine 1 tablespoon sugar, 3 tablespoon butter and 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1 cup water and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low, and add flour, all at once. Stir constantly until mixture forms a ball, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat, and beat eggs and to mixture, stirring until it become smooth and incorporated well.

Spoon the dough into a murruku acchu or into a pastry bag with a large star tip (or simply drop spoons full of batter into oil). Press strips of dough about 4 inches long into hot oil. Cook as many as will fit comfortably at once, turning as they brown it took about 8 minute.

Remove churros from oil, and drain on paper towels, then immediately roll them in cinnamon-sugar mixture/ dusted with confectioner’s sugar. Serve hot or warm. Enjoy with chocolate sauce. 

Chocolate sauce

In a microwave safe bowl add chocolate pieces and 1/8 cup milk , chili powder, cumin powder, cloves and 1 tablespoon confectioner’s sugar and heat it for 15 seconds at high.

Mix everything and heat for another 15 seconds so that chocolate melts and all the spices get incorporated.

In a small cup add rest of milk and corn starch and mix well and set aside.

Once the chocolate is melted add cornstarch milk mixture to it and heat for another 15 seconds. 

Enjoy with churros.

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Yield 1 dozen 4- to 6-inch churros
Verdict: Tasty
Will you make again: Yes I will

Swathi