LC Lumpen and Lovely Note
This ricotta fritters recipe calls for you to drop “tablespoon-sized lumps” of batter into the hot oil. Now, take a look at the picture up there. Do they look like lumps to you? Seems like someone’s been taking a little extra time over shaping those beauties. Luckily, we don’t have to do the same thing at home – go ahead and drop the batter in any old way you please. Heck, if you want to try drizzling it in like you would with a funnel cake, go right ahead. The only caveat is to watch your timings – if your fritters are smaller, or thinner, they will cook faster.
Ricotta Fritters
Ingredients
Directions
Beat the eggs, vanilla, and ricotta together in a large mixing bowl. Sift the flour, sugar, and baking powder on top, and fold the mixture together until it is a homogenous if not entirely smooth batter.
Preheat the oven to 200°F (93°C).
Bring 2 inches of oil to 375°F (190°C) in a wide skillet. Add tablespoon-sized lumps of batter to the oil, working in batches as necessary to avoid crowding the pan. Fry the fritters for about 4 minutes, flipping them once mid-fry to ensure that each side turns a deep golden brown.
Remove them to a paper towel-lined sheet pan and put the pan in the oven. Let the oil return to temperature before you fry the next batch. Put your serving platter in the oven to warm before adding the last of the batter to the pan.
Serve the fritters on the warmed platter, dusted generously with confectioners’ sugar.
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
This recipe for fried donuts comes from Italy, which should come as no surprise since the ricotta cheese is a major ingredient. It was traditionally served on the celebration of San Giuseppe. Here is the Italian recipe…it’s simple.
Italian Donuts, Sfinge de San Giuseppe
Makes 20
1 pound whole milk ricotta cheese
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
5 drops almond extract
6 large eggs
2 cups self-rising flour
Oil for deep-frying at 375°F
Powdered sugar for garnish
Mix the first 7 ingredients together, then add the flour and mix well. Drop by rounded spoonful into the hot oil and fry to golden, being sure the donuts are cooked thru in their middle. Drain well and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve with coffee.
Lovely, Stu, thank you!