Panzerotti with Ricotta

17/11/2023

Here is the recipe for making delicious panzerotti with ricotta, a specialty of Italian cuisine.

Ingredients

500 g of flour
250 ml of lukewarm water
12 g of fresh brewer’s yeast
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
250 g of ricotta
100 g of mozzarella
Salt and pepper to taste
Oil for frying as needed

Preparation

In a bowl, crumble the brewer’s yeast and add the sugar and a little lukewarm water taken from the 250 ml planned. Mix until the yeast has completely dissolved.
In another large bowl, pour the flour and make a well in the center where you’ll pour the dissolved yeast. Gradually add the rest of the water, extra virgin olive oil, and start kneading.
Add the salt and continue kneading until you get a smooth, elastic dough. Form a ball with the dough and leave it to rise in a warm place, covered with a clean kitchen towel, until it doubles in size (about 2 hours).
In the meantime, in a bowl, mix the ricotta with pepper and a pinch of salt. Cut the mozzarella into small cubes and let it drain to lose the excess water.
When the dough has doubled in volume, take small portions and roll them out into round discs with a rolling pin, leaving a thickness of about 4-5 mm.
In the center of each disk of dough, place a spoonful of ricotta and a few cubes of mozzarella, being careful not to overfill to avoid spilling out during cooking.
Close the panzerotti by pinching the edges to seal them well, giving them the typical half-moon shape.
In a deep-sided frying pan, heat plenty of oil for frying. When the oil has reached the right temperature, fry the panzerotti a few at a time until they become golden and puffed.
Remove them with a slotted spoon and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to remove the excess oil.
Serve hot and enjoy immediately to best appreciate their flavor.

Curiosity

Panzerotti are a delicacy typical of Puglian cuisine, particularly associated with the city of Bari. It is said that their origin is linked to the need to use the leftover bread dough, transforming it into something delicious and substantial.