Saturday, 6 February 2010

Fatti Fritti - Sardinian Carnival Doughnuts


Fatti-Fritti are a Sardinian Carnival speciality.
We do not celebrate Carnival here in the UK - except for the Notting Hill Carnival, but I decided to celebrate it anyway!
There are so many different ways to prepare Zippulas.
I decided to try this recipe from ‘I Dolci di Pinella’, one of my favourite Italian food blogs. The result was great. Enjoy, and Happy Carnival.

Ingredients

  • Plain Flour, 500g (I mixed 300g of Italian Flour ‘OO’ type, with 200g of strong white bread flour)
  • Sugar, 75g
  • Lard (liquified), 75g
  • Eggs, 2
  • Dried Active Yeast,15g
  • Whole Milk, 130g
  • Juice of an orange
  • Grated zest of an orange and a lemon
  • Filu e Ferru Liquor (or grappa, or sambuca), 3 tbsp
  • Pinch of salt

You will also need

  • Peanut Oil for deep frying
  • White Sugar to sprinkle over the doughnuts

Notes: You will end up with a very sticky dough. For this reason, I decided to use a kitchen mixer. If you don’t have one, you can work the dough by hand, but be aware that it will stick to your hands quite a lot.

Method

Step 1

Dissolve the yeast in 130g of warm milk. Leave it in a warm place until the surface is covered with approx. 2 cm of froth (10-15 minutes).
In a kitchen mixer - Beat the eggs with the sugar and a pinch of salt for 2-3 minutes. Start adding all of the remaining ingredients gradually and mix for 20-30 minutes.
You should obtain a very soft, sticky and elastic dough.
Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 2 hours or until doubled in size.

Step 2

Sprinkle some flour on the work surface.
Divide the dough into pieces, forming ring shapes (of the size of ring doughnuts).

Important: The dough is quite sticky, so use flour liberally to form the rings. Be aware that the rings will have to rise for another hour, so it is important that you flour them very well, but not too much.

Place the rings onto a well-floured surface, cover with a clean towel and let rise for about an hour.



Step 3

Preheat the oil in a pan to approx. 170 degrees C. Gently place the doughnuts into the oil, 3 to 4 at a time, depending on the size of the pan. Cook for about 1 minute per side or until lightly golden. Drain on paper towel and sprinkle liberally with white sugar.

Fatti-Fritti- Ricetta di Pinella (http://idolcidipinella.blogspot.com/)

Per questi dolci ho seguito la ricetta di Pinella. L’unica differenza e’ che io ho dimezzato le dosi e usato il lievito secco, anziche’ quello fresco.


Saturday, 16 January 2010

Sardinian Almond Meringues (Bianchini, Meringhe Sarde)


January is a depressing month for me, mainly because of the ‘self-imposed’ new year’s resolutions (losing weight is ‘obviously’ one of them!).
However I could not refrain myself from starting making sweets again, sorry! I have obviously promised myself to eat only one.. yes, only one.. of these nice, sweet, super-light meringues.
This is a Sardinian recipe, given to me by my mother in law.

Ingredients
  • Egg whites, 150g (3-4 days old)
  • White sugar, 300g
  • Toasted almond flakes, 100g
  • Lemon juice, 2 tbsp
  • Zest of a lemon
  • A pinch of salt

Method

Preheat the oven to 100° and set non-stick paper on 2 large baking sheets.
In a very clean mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with the lemon juice and a pinch of salt to soft peaks and gradually add the sugar until stiff.
Fold in the chopped almond flakes and the lemon zest, working with upward movements. The mixture is now ready to be piped onto the baking sheets.
Cook on a low shelf for 1 hour and and 20/30 minutes at 100°.
Leave to cool on the trays or a cooling rack.

Meringhe alle Mandorle (Bianchini)

Ingredienti
  • Albumi, 150g (meglio se di 3-4 giorni)
  • Zucchero, 300g
  • Mandore tostate in scaglie, 100g
  • Succo di limone, 2 cucchiai
  • Scorza grattugiata di un limone
  • Un pizzico di sale
Procedimento

Riscaldare il forno a 100° e preparare due placche su cui avrete steso della carta da forno. Versare gli albumi, il succo di limone ed un pizzico di sale in una ciotola molto pulita, che non abbia nessun residuo di grasso.
Con uno sbattitore montare gli albumi a neve, aggiungendo lo zucchero gradualmente. Quando il composto e’ ben fermo e compatto aggiungere le mandorle tostate e tagliuzzate e la scorza di limone grattugiata.
Con una sacca da pasticciere formare le meringhe sulle placche da forno e cuocere a 100° per un’ora e 20/30 minuti circa. Lasciare reffreddare.

Friday, 8 January 2010

Mamma...


Happy New Year everyone!
I have been away for a while but I will be back soon with more recipes..
I spent the Christmas holidays in Italy with my family and friends, bringing back love and good memories. Here is one.. my mum with a huge bowl of hand made fettucine... I love you mum.