José Pizarro CHURROS

Churros are treats that are world-famous – I haven’t met a single person who doesn’t love them. They bring so many fond memories to mind. Growing up in Cáceres in Andalucía, I usually had churros for breakfast as a child and can still remember waking up to the smell of the delicious dough being fried by my mum. Even now, whenever I smell them, I hear my mother saying “José, time to wake up! José, time for school!” It was such a delicious way to start the day.

Churros are also a celebratory treat – they are served at the ferias, the local Spanish festivals, or on New Year’s Eve at the end of the night. Chocolate and churros are traditionally served as the last treat before guests head home.

Churros have always been part of my life and I’m so happy to be able to share my recipe with you. I hope it helps make many good memories for you too.

MAKES 20-25

250g plain flour

1 tsp baking powder a pinch of sea salt

320-350ml water

50ml extra virgin olive oil

1 litre olive oil or sunflower oil, for frying

50g caster sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a mixing bowl. Put the extra virgin olive oil and water into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Pour over the flour and beat until you have a thick but pipeable batter. Cover with clingfilm and chill for 20 minutes.

Heat the oil in a deep saucepan to 180C – or until a cube of bread browns in about 20 seconds. Fit a star nozzle to a large disposable piping bag and spoon the mixture into it. Once the oil is hot enough, pipe the mixture into the pan in long lines, using scissors to cut the batter when each churro is about 12cm long. Fry about three or four at a time for 3 minutes, until golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper.

Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a shallow bowl and scatter over the top of the churros, or use to dip the ends into as you eat.

Serve with a nice thick chocolate and dip the churros. There are lots of different brands of chocolate but you just need to make sure it’s really thick, almost like a chocolate pot.