Last week we were talking about Candlemas with its crepes that everybody loves. This week we aregoing to talk about another well loved culinary tradition of the month of February: Mardi Gras.

The origins of Mardi Gras

In Christian tradition, Mardi Gras is the last day before Lent (fasting period lasting 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter).

To prepare body and spirit for this privation period, it was customary to eat well and to party.  This was the birth of Carnival and Mardi Gras!

It used to be that Carnival went from Epiphany to Ash Wednesday and came to its climax during Mardi Gras meal where meats and pastries were eaten in quantity.

The festival brought together so many people, from all origins, that it was necessary to make cheap and quickly made pastries.

This is what gave birth to crepes for Candlemas and beignets and waffles for Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras in Provence

In Provence, Mardi Gras is beignets, waffles and beautiful Carnivals ! But it is also the opportunity to consume special beignets. Fried dough with orange blossom.

So if you want to add a bit of Provence in your Mardi Gras sweets, follow the guide:

The recipes for Provencal fried dough:

Ingredients (for approximately 10 units)

250 g  of flower

2 eggs

1/2 bag of baking powder

30 g of melted butter

1 soup spoon of sunflower oil

1 soup spoon of caster sugar 

A few drops of orange blossom water

Mix the ingredients and knead the dough for about 10 minutes on a work surface

Make a ball and let rest for about 1 hour under a towel.

Spread the dough with a rolling pin to get a thickness of 1 mm.

Make rectangles of approximately 7 cm x 14 cm and fry them in boiling oil. When the fried dough is golden on both sides,  drain them on absorbent paper and add sugar immediately.

Enjoy!

Plaisirs et Maisons de Provence suggests that you  stay in one of its vacation rental  for a gourmet moment of exchange, sharing and friendship.

If you wish to discover the riches offered by Provence, we invite you  to contact our agency Plaisirs & Maisons de Provence or to request a custom made quote by clicking on this link.