On Tuesday February 28th, many French cities will be celebrating Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). Mardi Gras has its origins in marking the last day Christians could eat “des mets gras” (fatty foods) before the period of “Carême” (Lent), which consist of spending 40 days of prayer and meat abstinence until Easter. Christians would celebrate Mardi Gras by eating des mets gras, traditionaly crêpes, gauffres (French waffles), beignets (French donuts), because of the necessity to use up all the eggs and butter supplies that would not be used during Carême.
Mardi gras is also the highest point of Carnaval, where the people would celebrate with costumes and parades in the streets. The word Carnaval is from Latin “Carne Vale”, which means "farewell to meat" or “farewell to the flesh” signifying the approaching fast that came with Carême.
Today, Mardi Gras is celebrated in various cities around France, like Paris, and especially in Nice with its Carnaval de Nice, one of the largest carnivals in the world. The city of Nice has been celebrating Carnaval since as far as 1294. In the past, participants would throw plaster confetti, flour and eggs at each other. Today, participants are often disguised in colorful and creative costumes, which could be elegant or absurd costumes.
Mardi gras doesn’t always fall on the same date every year. It is always 47 days before Easter. So why don’t you join in the celebration of Mardi Gras by making some apple beignets? Here’s the recipe:
Serves 4
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup water
4 tablespoons dark rum
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
6 tablespoons heavy cream
2 apples, golden is great
1 1/2 cup plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 large egg
3/4 cup apple cider
corn oil for frying
powdered sugar
Start with the sauce. Heat the sugar in a pan on medium heat. Once its melted and golden brown add butter, water, run, vinegar and cream.
Stir until you have a smooth sauce. Remove from the heat and pour into a bowl. Peel and core the apples. In a bowl stir together flour, baking powder, egg and cider. The batter should be thick.
Dip the sliced apples into the batter. Heat the oil in a large pot. Fry the apple slices until golden.
Let them run off on paper towel. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve hot with the sauce.
Bon appetit!
Mardi gras is also the highest point of Carnaval, where the people would celebrate with costumes and parades in the streets. The word Carnaval is from Latin “Carne Vale”, which means "farewell to meat" or “farewell to the flesh” signifying the approaching fast that came with Carême.
Today, Mardi Gras is celebrated in various cities around France, like Paris, and especially in Nice with its Carnaval de Nice, one of the largest carnivals in the world. The city of Nice has been celebrating Carnaval since as far as 1294. In the past, participants would throw plaster confetti, flour and eggs at each other. Today, participants are often disguised in colorful and creative costumes, which could be elegant or absurd costumes.
Mardi gras doesn’t always fall on the same date every year. It is always 47 days before Easter. So why don’t you join in the celebration of Mardi Gras by making some apple beignets? Here’s the recipe:
Serves 4
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup water
4 tablespoons dark rum
1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
6 tablespoons heavy cream
2 apples, golden is great
1 1/2 cup plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 large egg
3/4 cup apple cider
corn oil for frying
powdered sugar
Start with the sauce. Heat the sugar in a pan on medium heat. Once its melted and golden brown add butter, water, run, vinegar and cream.
Stir until you have a smooth sauce. Remove from the heat and pour into a bowl. Peel and core the apples. In a bowl stir together flour, baking powder, egg and cider. The batter should be thick.
Dip the sliced apples into the batter. Heat the oil in a large pot. Fry the apple slices until golden.
Let them run off on paper towel. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve hot with the sauce.
Bon appetit!