beignet

In France, sweet beignets or fritters are usually made of pâte à la choux and sprinkled with sugar. Among the most famous ones are Bugnes Lyonnaises, soft and sugary and made for Carnival; the tourtisseaux from the Vendée, and the ones with the best name of all: pets-de-nonne.

Apple, banana and pineapple beignets are the classic desserts in Chinese restaurants. There are savoury ones such as beignets de crevettes, beignets de calmars (also known as beignets à la romaine, deep fried squid rings) or beignets de courgette, etc, etc, etc.

Beignets de pommes de terre, however, are made of grated raw potato and garlic, parsley and flour, and fried until golden.