West Fu “Pretzels”

It took a long time for me to come up with this English name, because there’s nothing quite like these deep-fried dough bits here, but calling them pretzels just about captures the appeal of this salty snack with an intriguing shape. They are crunchy, almost like thin breadsticks or crackers, and are made from sheets of dough that are then sliced, intricately folded, and deep-fried in peanut oil.

My great-grandma was a pro at making these, but she’d reserve them for large family gat