I have tasted St. Joseph’s fritters in many variations, both simple and enriched like rice fritters with raisins, but this year I rediscovered an old grandmother’s recipe to prepare the original Tuscan rice fritters, sweet and even softer.
Some additional tips that make a difference and make them even more delicious, such as the orange juice in the batter, so that even the little ones can enjoy them. With a few other ingredients, including rice, eggs, milk, and flour, these fritters turn into an explosion of softness, the outside slightly crunchy and the inside soft and moist, perfectly blending with the sweet taste of rice. Each bite of the Tuscan rice fritters offers a contrast of textures that encapsulates all the sweetness and history of the Italian tradition. In Tuscany, rice fritters are an essential sweet for Father’s Day but also a journey into childhood memories when the grandmother kneaded with patience and love, bringing to life these irresistible sweets that smelled of home, celebration, and family love.
See you in the next recipe!!!
TRY ALSO:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Cheap
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 35Pieces
- Cooking methods: Stove, Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: St. Joseph
- Energy 1,320.18 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 61.33 (g) of which sugars 27.31 (g)
- Proteins 7.71 (g)
- Fat 118.35 (g) of which saturated 21.42 (g)of which unsaturated 91.16 (g)
- Fibers 0.70 (g)
- Sodium 162.45 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 88 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
Yields about 35 fritters.
- 2 cups Arborio rice (or originario)
- 2 cups milk
- 1.25 cups water
- 6 tbsp granulated sugar
- lemon zest
- orange zest
- 1 pinch salt
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs
- Half packet baking powder
- 1 orange juice
- as needed peanut oil
- as needed granulated sugar
Tools: Tuscan rice fritters
- Saucepan
- Bowl
- Frying Pan
- Spoon
Recipe: Tuscan rice fritters
In a saucepan, place the milk, water, sugar, a pinch of salt, and a few pieces of orange and lemon zest. Heat, then add the rice and cook until all the liquid is absorbed, stirring continuously (it will take about 20 minutes); remember that the rice should be well cooked, and if necessary, add more milk.
Remove from the heat, transfer to a bowl, let cool, and remove the lemon and orange zests.
Once the rice has cooled, add the egg yolks, sifted flour mixed with baking powder, and mix everything together.
Whip the egg whites to stiff peaks, add them to the batter, and mix again.
Now the batter is ready to fry the fritters.
In a pan, heat the peanut oil but do not let it get too hot; otherwise, the fritters will burn on the outside and remain uncooked inside.
With the help of a spoon or better yet with an ice cream scoop (I used this one), scoop the batter and drop it directly into the pan with already hot oil, trying to shape it into a ball. Fry on one side, turn over, and continue on the other; once the fritters are nicely golden, transfer them with a slotted spoon onto a plate covered with kitchen paper towels. Now all that remains is to roll them in granulated sugar, I always use this container that I find very useful.
While still warm, here are your St. Joseph’s rice fritters, soft, puffed, and sugary, they are truly a delight. Be warned…they’re addictive, one leads to another. Happy celebration to all dads!
Storage and Tips
Storage: it is recommended to consume the rice fritters just after preparation; however, they can be stored for 1-2 days in an airtight container at room temperature.
Tips: you can replace the orange juice with a type of liquor like vin santo or rum, but use it sparingly to avoid making the fritters taste too strong.
You can also choose to form round balls before frying them. Just lightly flour your hands, scoop some batter and gently roll it between your palms.
FAQ
Can I avoid adding flour to the fritters’ batter?
Flour helps in binding the ingredients, binds liquids, and contributes to the fritters’ crunchiness during cooking. If you still want to make flourless fritters, you can replace it with cornstarch, potato starch, or rice flour, which are different alternatives to achieve a similar texture.
