Trini Fried Bake (Fry Bake)

Fried Bake (also known as "fry bake") is another very popular Trinidadian breakfast "bread". It is actually fried, not baked.  If you have heard of the most famous Trinidad "bake N shark", this is my recipe for the "bake". I ate bake and shark sandwich during my recent trip to Trinidad and found the bake to be sweeter, more sugar was probably added to the recipe. 

My kids get excited at the sound of "fried bake". Last Saturday, I made a quick, late breakfast and since I had no saltfish on hand to make saltfish and tomatoes or buljol to accompany it, some of us enjoyed the fried bake with just butter, just cheese, butter and melted cheese and my hubbie had his with fried eggs. On Monday, we made it again to have with the tomatoes and saltfish(that I also made for this blog). Yes, I ate fried bake three times this week in enormous quantities to ensure that I had formulated the most precise recipe. I have the belly and a wide smile to prove it!

Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon aluminum free baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 teaspoons raw brown sugar (increase to 1 tbs if you like it a little sweeter) 
1 tablespoon butter (room temperature), optional
Water, about 3/4 cup
Oil (for frying bake) (2 cups) 

Makes 8 Fried Bakes

Directions
1. In a large bowl, add flour, salt, sugar and baking powder. Rub in butter (if using). Mix well.
2. While gradually adding water, knead to make a soft, smooth dough.
3. Form into a large ball(or two) and cover with a wet paper towel. Let it rest for about 15-30 minutes. You can refrigerate for several ours or overnight. This helps to create a fluffier result. 
4. Divide dough into small "golf" balls. On a lightly-floured surface flatten (1/4 inch) using hands or rolling pin. (See other option below-"How to make triangles")
5. Pour oil into a frying pan on medium heat. 
6. Working in batches, fry the dough disks, turning once, until golden brown and puffed, about 30 seconds per side. Continuously pour oil on bakes to help it to rise. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bakes to a paper towel-lined plate.

In a bowl, add flour, salt, sugar and baking powder. Mix well and knead..

Form into one or two balls... 

Cover with wet paper towel and let it rest for 15-30 minutes....

How to make triangles....

Roll out the dough to make a large circle...

Cut it into quarters.....



Example 2 (How to make circles)---with the other ball cut it into four....

Form into small round, soft balls...

...my daughter helped flatten to make round discs(circles)..

Add oil to skillet, when hot, but not smoking, carefully add dough to the hot oil ....

Continuously pour hot oil over the bake to make it "swell" quicker...my mother taught me this trick...
be careful!!

Turn over (flip) when it puffs up(swells)

When finished cooking--golden brown and puffs up--drain excess oil on the sides and place on a platter lined with paper towel...repeat with the remainder of the dough..

So beautiful...and delicious....and comforting...
Bake and Buljol

For a quick meal, eat with fried egg, cheese or butter

or with tomatoes and saltfish.....or with canned salmon cooked with tomatoes and onions, or.....whatever makes you happy...what are you going to eat it with???

Enjoy and make it a tradition in your home as well!

With love,

Ria