Bunuelos with Anise Syrup

ingredients

• Syrup:
• 1 quart water
• 4 cones piloncillo (about 1 3/4 cups), coarsely chopped
• 1 orange, quartered
• 1/2 large lime
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon anise
  1 tablespoon fennel
  1 1/2 teaspoons anise extract
• Bunuelos
• 3/4 cup water
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons lard, melted, cooled
• 1 tablespoon dark rum
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 quarts (about) all purpose flour
• Vegetable oil (for frying)

directions

syrup:

Combine all ingredients in heavy large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until piloncillo cones dissolve, about 5 minutes. Increase heat and boil until syrup thickens enough to coat spoon thinly, about 20 minutes. Strain syrup into bowl. (Syrup can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm before using.)

Bunuelos:

Combine 3/4 cup water, 3/4 cup juice, 1 egg, 3 tablespoons sugar, 3 tablespoons lard, 1 tablespoon rum, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in large bowl, whisk to blend well. Gradually add 1 1/4 quarts flour, stirring until soft, slightly sticky dough forms. Add more flour by tablespoonfuls if dough is very sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rest 1 hour.

Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Divide each half into 8 equal pieces. Shape each piece into round ball. Roll out each piece to 6 inch round. Let dough rounds rest 15 minutes.

Pour enough vegetable oil into heavy large pot to reach depth of 1 inch. Attach deep-fry thermometer and heat oil to 365 degrees to 370 degrees. Fry dough rounds, 2 at a time, until golden and puffed, turning rounds occasionally with tongs, about 2 minutes. Transfer bunuelos to paper towels to drain. Arrange bunuelos on platter. Drizzle generously with warm syrup.