SFINCI FRITTERS OR SAN MARTIN’S ZEPPOLE
The recipe for sfinci, fritters or San Martin’s zeppole, a traditional dessert of this time of year that has different names depending on where you go.
Every year I say I absolutely have to try to make this San Martin’s dessert, and finally, here I am: I make them with sourdough but will provide the version with dry yeast!
Let’s see how I made them.
EMIMETTOAIFORNELLI suggests:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Rest time: 4 Hours
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 20
- Cooking methods: Frying, Air frying, Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: San Martino, All seasons
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup semolina re-milled durum wheat flour
- 1 2/3 cups Manitoba flour
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup milk
- orange zest (or lemon)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3 oz liquid sourdough
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 3/4 tsp dried yeast (10 g fresh yeast)
- 1 qt vegetable oil
- powdered sugar (for sprinkling)
Tools
- Bowl
- Pot
Steps
For those using sourdough, refresh it the night before, and once it has grown 1.5 times, place it straight in the fridge. In the morning, take it out and let it acclimate for an hour before incorporating it into our doughs.
For those using dry yeast, subtract 1/4 cup of water from the TOTAL described and then follow the instructions on the package.
In a bowl, pour the sourdough with the milk and stir with a spoon until it dissolves; then pour in the flour, egg, and orange zest.
Do the same for the yeast, dissolve in the milk and combine the ingredients.
The dough will be a bit sticky, which is normal.
Let it rest until doubled: with sourdough, it will take about 6 hours (if active and in shape).
With dry yeast, about 4 hours.
Once risen, give it a stir to deflate the dough.
In a high-sided pot, pour in the oil for frying, and once it’s at temperature, proceed as follows:
use a spoon to scoop a bit of dough and with the help of another spoon drop it into the hot oil, cook for a few minutes and stir.
Drain on absorbent paper and sprinkle with plenty of powdered sugar.
Are you a sweet tooth? Pour a nice dose of melted chocolate on top!!
The SFINCI FRITTERS OR SAN MARTIN’S ZEPPOLE are ready!
