Vegan Toutons (a less healthy Newfie breakfast treat!)

Toutons

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 packet (16g) of yeast
1 cup of soy/rice/almond milk
2 tbsp shortening
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 tbsp salt
5-6 cups of flour

Instructions:

Dissolve 1 tbsp sugar in 1/2 cup of lukewarm water, sprinkle with yeast and let stand until frothy. Heat the milk in a small pot and add shortening, stir until melted.

Add cold water, salt and 1 tsp of sugar to the milk mixture. Take pot off the heat and let cool so that the milk is warm, not hot and not cold. Then add yeast mixture and stir. Add two cups of flour, stir until mixture is smooth, then gradually add the rest of the flour until you have a consistent and non-sticky dough. Lightly flour a board and knead the dough for ten minutes. Form dough into a ball and place into a greased bowl, very lightly oil the dough, cover and let rise for one hour or until double in size.

Punch through the dough, then break off dough into fistfuls and form into a flat circular shape (like a patty), exact size depends on preference, I prefer mine about an inch and a half thick. Fry toutons in a frying pan, margarine is the best thing to fry them in as with canola oil they tend to burn fast and so constantly need to be flipped, however they still taste very good when fried in oil. Fry until golden brown on both sides. Serve with maple syrup or molasses.

Additional comments:

Toutons are a favorite breakfast back home in Newfoundland so I was very happy to find a vegan recipe for it! For shortening you could use coconut oil, however margarine or even vegetable oil would work fine, it doesn't seem to affect the taste very much at all. Like previously stated, if you fry them in oil keep a close eye on them! Even on medium heat they can burn quickly. Not a very healthy breakfast but great for cooking for a large group, and very filling!