Loukoumas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Loukoumas (Greek [luku'mas], plural loukoumades) or lokma (Turkish [lok'ma]) is a popular Greek and Turkish fried-dough pastry. It is made of deep fried dough coated with sugar syrup or honey and cinnamon, and sometimes sprinkled with sesame.

This pastry is called zvingous or zvingoi by the Greek Jews, who make them as Hanukkah treats. It is claimed to have been originated by the Romaniotes, though the name derives from medieval German swinge,^[1]. A similar dish is also found in Italy as sfingi di San Giuseppe.

In Turkey, lokma are traditionally distributed to the poor at funerals (lokma dökmek)^[2] and by street vendors during festivals.^[3]

Various other kinds of fried dough with syrup are found in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and South Asia, from the Italian zeppole to the Indian jalebi.

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Cultural references 3 References 4 Notes

[edit] Etymology

The Turkish word lokma means 'mouthful' or 'morsel', and comes from the Arabic لقمة luqma(t), which according to some sources is also the origin of lokum (from لقوم, its Arabic plural).^[4] A version called luqmat al-qadi (judge's mouthful) was described by al-Baghdadi in the 13th century.^[5]

[edit] Cultural references

There is a Greek saying "Eisai megalos loukoumas!" ("you are a big loukoumas"), which is used when the speaker wants to offend somebody by calling him or her stupid.

[edit] References

• A.D. Alderson and Fahir İz, The Concise Oxford Turkish Dictionary, 1959. ISBN 0-19-864109-5
• Γ. Μπαμπινιώτης (Babiniotis), Λεξικό της Νέας Ελληνικής Γλώσσας, Athens, 1998
• Oxford Companion to Food, s.v. jalebi.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ Babiniotis
2. ^ Alderson
3. ^ Oxford Companion
4. ^ Diran Kélékian, Dictionnaire Turc-Français (Ottoman Turkish), 1911
5. ^ Oxford Companion to Food; Charles Perry, A Baghdad Cookery Book, 2006. ISBN 1-903018-42-0.