Fat Thursday
The tradition of this day goes back a long way. From year to year it is celebrated during the period when winter gives way to spring. The date of the holiday depends on the date of Easter and always falls on the last Thursday before Lent. For Catholics, Lent begins 46 days before Easter, on Ash Wednesday.
This year, Catholic Easter will be on April 17, Ash Wednesday is on March 2, and therefore Fat Thursday 2022 we will celebrate on February 24.
In the old days, the arrival of the long-awaited spring was celebrated with feasting and gluttony. Poles drank beer, liqueurs, and served fatty snacks with them. One of them was doughnuts, although completely different from those we are used to.
Donuts were baked from lean dough, and the filling was lard, bacon and meat. And only from the 16th century, donuts began to change, lard was replaced with nuts, and then the dough was changed.
How to choose delicious doughnuts to fully enjoy Fat Thursday? We asked locals to give us some tips:
- Pay attention to the shapeThe donut should be slightly flattened and not perfectly shaped. This is a sure sign that it was baked by hand.
- Click on the donut. If the dough springs back, you've found the perfect donuts. The elasticity of the dough indicates freshness and quality.
- The perfect donut should be brown. Too dark a color is a sure sign that the donut is burnt. This can be dangerous to your health. Pay attention to the characteristic line around the donut. It should be white and not too thick. If it is not there, the dough was not mixed correctly, which means it did not rise and the donut settled to the bottom during frying.
- We measure the donut. Polish bakers emphasize that a traditional doughnut is enough for three bites and should fit in your hand. A large size may be a sign of leavening agents in the dough.
- Let's look at the donut from all sides. The glaze on the donut should be light and thin. If it is thick, white or crumbles and falls off, it is better to go to another bakery. By the way, traditional donuts also do not have any holes - the filling is added before baking.
- And the last piece of advice, pay attention to the price. A good donut cannot be cheap. Confectioners note that the ingredients of good dough: the right flour, fresh milk, eggs, sugar and real butter are constantly becoming more expensive. Donuts for several tens of pennies will be stuffed with chemicals and will cause heartburn.
Follow these simple tips and you will fully enjoy the Polish tradition of Fat Thursday without compromising your health. And remember, one day of sweet gluttony will not cause you any side effects around your thighs! Delicious donuts!
