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    You Are Here Home » Middle Eastern Recipes

    Published: May 13, 2019 Updated: May 5, 2022 by Hilda Sterner | This post may contain affiliate links 10 Comments

    Zlabia (Middle Eastern Mini Funnel Cakes)

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    zalabia recipe pin

    Today I'm sharing a favorite recipe from my cookbook; My homemade Zlabia recipe. Zlabia or Zalabia are described in a variety of ways, including fritters, dumplings, and pancakes. However, a more fitting description would be mini funnel cakes with a Middle Eastern flair! Similar to Chebakia (Moroccan cookies), Zlabia are deep-fried and drenched in delicious syrup.

    zalabya on a plate

    About This Recipe

    This recipe is known by various names including Lebanese Sweet Fritters, Yemenite Fried Dough, Zalabya (A Jordanian Dessert), Hanukkah Fritters, and Jalebi (the Indian version of this popular Middle Eastern treat).

    Needless to say, this recipe is popular throughout the Middle East and is enjoyed by many cultures. However, this is an updated version of the recipe in my cookbook (Mom's Authentic Assyrian Recipes).

    Whenever I have one, I'm instantly transformed back to my childhood. In fact, as a kid in Iraq, I always looked forward to my sister Beni's in-law's visit. They always brought a large tray full of store-bought Baklawa and other sweets, including Zlabia, with them.

    Not only did I enjoy this sweet couple's visit, but I also enjoyed the delicious sweets that were always guaranteed with those visits!

    How to Make Zalabia

    The first thing you want to do is to prepare the syrup. The syrup will need to be cooled while we make the batter.

    Prepare Syrup

    STEP 1. Mix sugar, water, lemon juice, and rose water in a small saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves.

    STEP 2. Bring to a slow boil for approximately ten minutes, or until it starts to have a syrupy consistency. (If it gets too thick, add a little more water and stir until it reaches the right consistency).

    syrup in a pot being stirred

    STEP 3. Allow the syrup to cool off while you work on the batter.

    Prepare Zlabia Batter

    STEP 1. Mix yeast, sugar, and water, and allow to rest for 15 minutes.

    STEP 2. Whisk in cornstarch, flour, salt, and baking powder. The batter consistency should resemble pancake batter.

    batter for zalabia in a silver bowl with a whisk

    STEP 3. Cover and place in a warm location for one hour.

    Frying the Zalabia

    Heat vegetable oil to 375 degrees F.

    STEP 1. Place batter in a squeeze bottle, cut tip if necessary, for a thicker stream.

    squeeze bottle with a small hole in the lid

    STEP 2. Squeeze batter out of the bottle, into the hot oil, forming 3" circles resembling funnel cakes.

    zalabia batter being fried

    STEP 3. Make a circular pattern with the batter into the hot oil, while gently squeezing the bottle.

    zalabia being fried in a pan of oil

    STEP 4. Fry on both sides until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

    zalabia draining on paper towels

    STEP 5. While still warm, you (or a helper) can start dipping the Zlabia into the syrup. Allow the excess syrup to drip off, and place on a platter. Continue until the batter is used up.

    draining syrup from zlabya
    zalabia on a white plate plate

    Recipe FAQs and Expert Tips

    What Do Zlabia Taste Like?

    The Zalabia dough doesn't have much of a taste to it because it's made with (corn starch, flour, yeast, salt, and baking powder).

    However, the irresistible flavor comes from the fried, crispy batter, and the rosewater-flavored syrup that the Zlabia is soaked into.

    Think funnel cake, minus the powdered sugar, with a hint of roses.

    What is Zlabia?

    Zlabia is made with a thin batter that is drizzled into a pan of hot oil and deep-fried until golden brown. The fritters are then immersed into a delicious, rose water-flavored syrup. The result is a sticky, gooey treat that's hard to resist!

    Unlike, Jalebi, which have a distinct cardamom flavor and food coloring added, this Middle Eastern version is known for its rosewater flavor.

    • Be sure to have a bottle of rosewater on hand before starting on this Zalabia recipe.
    • Another helpful item would be a plastic condiment squeeze bottle. You will use the bottle to squeeze out the batter into swirls as you fry them.
    • It's helpful to have someone help you when it's time to fry the Zlabia. While one of you fries and drains the Zlabia, the other can dip them in the syrup and plate them. 
    zalabia on a white plate with a green border

    Related Recipes

    • Empty Tomb Resurrection Cookies
    • Cardamom Shortbread Cookies (Shakar Lama)
    • Middle Eastern Dessert (Muakacha)
    • Muhallebi (Mahalabia) Middle Eastern Pudding

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

    Stay in touch with me through social media @ Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

    a plate of zalabia

    Zlabia (Middle Eastern Mini Funnel Cakes)

    Perfect Zlabia or Zalabia recipe, which yields light, crisp, and absolutely addicting mini funnel cakes drenched in a rose-water flavored syrup!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Middle Eastern
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Resting Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
    Servings: 40 Zalabia
    Calories: 80kcal
    Author: Hilda Sterner

    Ingredients

    Syrup

    • 1 cup sugar
    • ½ cup water
    • 1 tsp. lemon juice
    • 1 tsp. rosewater

    Batter

    • 1 tsp. yeast
    • ¾ cup water
    • 1 tsp. sugar
    • ½ cup cornstarch
    • ½ cup flour
    • ¼ tsp. salt
    • 1 tsp. baking powder
    • 1 cup vegetable oil for frying (or more as needed)

    Instructions

    Syrup

    • Mix sugar, water, lemon juice, and rose water in a saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
    • Bring to a slow boil for approximately ten minutes, or until it starts to have a syrupy consistency.
    • Allow the syrup to cool off while you work on the batter.

    Batter

    • Mix yeast, sugar, and water. Cover, and allow to rest for 15 minutes.
    • Mix in cornstarch, flour, salt, and baking powder.
    • Cover and place in a warm location for one hour.

    Method

    • Heat vegetable oil to 375 degrees F.
    • Place batter in a squeeze bottle, cut the tip of the bottle if necessary.
    • Squeeze batter out of the bottle, into the hot oil, forming 3″ circles resembling funnel cakes.
    • Drain on paper towels. While still warm, dip the Zalabia in the syrup and allow excess to drip off.
    • Continue until the batter is used up. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Be sure to have a bottle of rosewater on hand before starting on this recipe.
    • Another helpful item would be a plastic condiment squeeze bottle. You will use the bottle to squeeze out the batter into swirls as you fry them.
    • It's helpful to have someone help you when it's time to fry the Zalabia. While one of you fries and drains the Zalabia, the other can dip them in the syrup, while still warm, and plate them. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1zlabia | Calories: 80kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 5g
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    Comments

    1. Michael Reese says

      March 20, 2022 at 9:00 pm

      I made this. It was good. But I had a problem. The moment the batter hit the oil it would break into little pieces and scatter. Swirling just made many strings everywhere. I don’t understand how to make the shake without it breaking.

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        March 20, 2022 at 11:00 pm

        Hi Michael, Sorry to hear that. I might have to post a video demonstration so you can see the technique.

        Reply
    2. KARYN says

      February 11, 2022 at 5:57 pm

      I have not tried this recipe yet but I know the tridit I onal Persian recipe when made is so syrup rich that is is almost too sweet and too sticky sweet and rich to really enjoy. They do eat it with tea for sure so it is a tradition for them to have sugar with there tea. So these sweet heavy laden types of cookies are often serv3d after meals with 20 cups of tea and other items like a large bowl of fruit and a plate of dates and a verity of nuts and dried fruits. And sometimes cheeses as well. Thank you for taking this on as fried things. An be challenging. Kudos.

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        February 11, 2022 at 6:10 pm

        Karyn, Yes, Zlabia is definitely sweet, somem might say too sweet. It's definitely not one of those sweets you can eat too many of. One usually does the trick. I have a sweet tooth so I love them. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Jennicer says

      April 17, 2021 at 7:11 pm

      Is it normally thick and stretchy? That’s how mine turned out and it was hard to squeeze out

      Reply
      • Hilda Sterner says

        April 17, 2021 at 8:09 pm

        Hi, the batter should be mixed really well so that it doesn't have any lumps (which might keep it from being squeezed out). It should be pretty thin, like the image in the recipe show.

        Reply
    4. Kim says

      May 11, 2020 at 10:28 am

      How much baking soda? The recipe doesn't say

      Reply
      • HildaSterner says

        May 11, 2020 at 2:04 pm

        Hi Kim
        Sorry about that. I'm shocked that no one has ever mentioned that before! It's supposed to be 1 tsp. and it's actually baking powder, not soda. I will update the recipe, thanks for letting me know!

        Reply
    5. Kelly Methey says

      May 13, 2019 at 10:32 am

      These sound very interesting and delicious. I am going to try these!

      Reply
      • HildaSterner says

        May 13, 2019 at 10:38 am

        Be careful, they're addicting. Scott ate 1/2 of the Zalabia pictured in the recipe, in one sitting!

        Reply

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