Ingredients
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330 gr Flour
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Oil for Frying
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2 Eggs
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Vanilla essence
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Lemon zest
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a pinch Salt
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75 gr Butter
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1 Tbs White WineOr Liquore "Strega"
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1/2 sachet cake yeast
Directions
Castagnole are a typical Carnival dessert, famous throughout Italy, not just in Sicily! They are very tasty, very soft and very fried balls of dough, made with a very simple mixture of flour, eggs and sugar, from which small balls the size of a chestnut (castagna in Italian) are formed, hence the name Castagnole, first fried in hot oil and then dipped in sugar!
Steps
1
Done
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Make a well in the flour on a wooden or marble work surface. Make a hole in the centre and pour in the eggs, sugar, vanilla sugar, baking powder, a pinch of salt and the softened butter. |
2
Done
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Knead with your hands and mix well. When the dough is smooth and homogeneous, add the "Strega" liquor or a little dry white wine for flavouring (quantity to taste, but generally one table spoon). |
3
Done
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At this point, let the dough rest for a few minutes. Cut the dough into pieces, forming small balls the size of chestnuts or slightly larger. |
4
Done
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The balls should be fried in plenty of hot oil in a large casserole dish. Turn often, wait for them to brown but avoid burning. |
5
Done
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Once cooked, leave to rest on a plate lined with absorbent paper. Finally, sprinkle with icing sugar and serve the castagnole piping hot! |