Skip to main content

Ciambelle fritte di Carnevale (Graffe) - Carnival fried dounuts

 The content and pictures of this post are copyright registered & protected ©myitaliancuisine
How to describe the taste of these fried Italian Canival donuts?...Le frittelle di Carnevale also called "Graffe" in Naple.... They remind me my chilhood, the taste, the sugar sticking on your fingers and around your lips when you eat them.... I was looking for the perfect recipe ... after several trials I must say that this one is very close to perfection...my ciambelle fritte tasted just like the ones I used to buy in the Italian bakkery!!! The dought of these fried donuts can also be used to make the Italian "Bomboloni alla crema" also called "Bombe fritte"....but we will talk about this another time ;)

Makes about 15 Carnival fried donuts
Ingredients:
500 gr strong flour (I used the one for Italian pizza)
1 and half cup of lukewarm full fat milk
50gr of fresh yeast
1 medium boiled, peeled and smashed potato
The grated peel of 1 large organic lemon (or 2 small)
2 tbs of extra viirgin olive oil
2 tbs of Grappa
1 egg
1 liter of frying oil
2 cups of granulated sugar, for decoration

Instructions:
1) In a small bowl melt the fresh yeast in the lukewarm milk together with a pinch of sugar, set apart.
2) Mix flour, oil, smashed potato, grated lemon, egg, sugar and Grappa with your hands on a worktop or in a food mixer.
3)Add the milk-yeast mixture, mix well and work the dough till it gets elastic and even (this can take 10 to 15 minutes).
4) When the dough is ready you can shape the donuts: make the dough flat, using a rollig pin, then cut the discs using 2 round cutters, a large one and a very small one (I used a large glass and a wine screw cup). Cut  the big disc first then the internal small disc.
5) Place the donuts on a large tray, cover with a kitchen towel, place the tray in a warm place (temperature must be between 25 and 30°C) or in the oven at 30°C till the donuts double the size.
6) Once the donuts have doubled their size, keep them warm and pour the frying oil in a large frying pan.
 7) When the oil is hot place the donuts and fry till they turn golden brown.
 8) Dry each donut with a kitchen paper and place it in the granulated sugar, cover both sides with the sugar.
 Place the canival fried donuts on a serving plate and serve them warm.....they are delicious!!!!
Buon appetito and......Buon Carnevale!!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Neapolitan "Sfogliatella Frolla" (sfogliatella frolla napoletana)

 The content and pictures of this post are copyright registered & protected ©myitaliancuisine I miss Italy tremendously... so today I will propose you something very traditional from Naple: the Sfogliatella! Neapolitan most famous pastry:"Sfogliatella"comes in two styles: "riccia", with a crust of many crisp, papery layers, and "frolla", with a thicker pastry crust. The riccia's tender exterior (made with flour, water, and lard) consists of concentric squashed rings. The frolla shell (made with flour, sugar, and butter or lard) is like the best sweet piecrust. Both hold fillings of sweetened ricotta and cooked semolina flavored with vanilla, "millefiori" flavour and mixed candied fruits. I propose you the Sfogliatella frolla, much easier to make at home....but terrific as well as the Riccia! The filling is, anyway, always the same. Makes about 20 Sfogliatelle Ingredients for the pastry crust: 500gr Pastry flour 180gr...

Croissants with apricot jam filling (cornetti alla marmellata di albicocche)

These croissants briochés with apricot jam filling are perfect for the traditional Italian breakfast: Cornetto e Cappuccino ! WOOOW I feel back in Italy already! Freshly baked they are delicious and the good baking smell will go all over your house...so what are you waiting to bake your own cornetti? The basic dough is the same of the French braided brioche Ingredients: 1French brioche dough  see recipe here 1 cup of apricot jam 1 beaten egg for the glaze 1 tbs of milt for the glaze few tbs of pearl sugar for decoration Instructions: With a rolling pin start to roll out your brioche dough till you get a large circle. Try the get a perfect circle like the one above. Cut the circle in 16 triangles. Make a small cut at the base of the triangle. Fill with a teaspoon of jam. Roll the croissant starting from the large base. Roll all the croissants.  Place them on an oven tray with parchment paper and make them rest for one hour. In the me...

Pizza with Porcini mushrooms (Pizza ai funghi porcini)

Probably one of my favourite Pizzas. Funghi Porcini are so tasteful...we do not need any other ingredient  to be added on this pizza...except mozzarella of course and if you like a taste of white trufle oil (olio al tartufo bianco). Una delizia! Enjoy! For the dough and the cooking method please see the basic pizza making instructions here For 1 round pizza Ingredients: 1 ball of pizza dough follow recipe here:  how to make a great pizza at home 2 medium fresh Porcini or a small package of frozen Porcini 1 medium mozzarella Few basilic leaves 2 tbs Extra virgin olive oil half garlic clove chopped 1 teaspoon of finely cut parsley White Truffle oil (optional) Instructions: Preheat your oven 230-250C°. Pour the olive oil in a frying pan, add the chopped garlic, cook on medium heat till golden, add the Porcini, cook for few minutes, add the finely cut parsley and salt to taste. Keep aside. Place the pizza dough ball on  floured worktop, roll it ...