Light, yeast-leavened dough rolled thin, cut into rectangles and deep-fried into golden puffs, dusted with sugar: a Circassian celebration staple served with tea, cheese or honey.
Lakum (Fried Dough Puffs)
Ingredients
Method
- Stir the yeast into the warm milk; whisk in the eggs, sugar and salt.
- Work in the flour to a soft, smooth leavened dough; cover and let it rise.
- Roll out no more than 5 mm thick.
- Cut into rectangles (round shapes are traditionally reserved for mourning).
- Deep-fry in hot oil, turning once, until puffed and golden, about 2 minutes.
- Drain on paper.
- Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm, or with honey and cheese.
This is the recipe from the Recipes section of the Circassian app, where you can also scale it and save it to your favourites.
Kitchen words in Circassian
The words for what is in this dish, in Kabardian (East Circassian) and Adyghe (West Circassian), with audio from the Circassian app’s lessons and audio course.
| English | Kabardian | Adyghe |
|---|---|---|
| milk | шэshe | щэshche |
| salt | шыгъуshyghu | щыгъуshchəghu |
| food | шхынshkhyn | шхыныshkhənə |
| delicious | IэфI'ef' | IэшIу'eshIu |
| This is delicious! | Мыр IэфIщ!Myr 'ef'shch! | Мыр IэшIу!Myr 'esh'u! |
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Lakum: questions
How long does it take to make Lakum?
About 60 minutes, according to the recipe in the Circassian app.
How many people does this Lakum recipe serve?
It serves 6. The servings control above the ingredients recalculates every quantity for 1 to 40 people.
What is Lakum made of?
The ingredients are: 400 ml warm milk; 3 eggs; 3 tbsp sugar; 1 tbsp yeast; pinch of salt; 4–5 cups wheat flour; oil, for deep-frying; powdered sugar, to dust.
Is Lakum an everyday or a festive dish?
The Circassian app files it as a festive dish (Breads & Grains).
Where does this Lakum recipe come from?
From the Recipes section of the Circassian app. The app’s recipes draw on Amjad Jaimoukha’s book Circassian Cuisine and were cross-checked against Russian and Adyghe food sources.
Sources
- Circassian app, Recipes section, recipe “Lakum (Fried Dough Puffs)” (recipe data last changed July 2026). The app’s recipes draw on Amjad Jaimoukha’s book Circassian Cuisine and were cross-checked against Russian and Adyghe food sources.
- Circassian app: audio course, Kabardian and Adyghe (the kitchen words: cheese, meat, milk, bread, tea, water, food, delicious), and the lessons’ vocabulary (chicken, salt, butter, honey).
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