Ricotta and Pear Fritters

Ricotta and pear fritters are a delicious dessert that combines the sweetness of fruit with the softness of ricotta. Here is the recipe to make them:

Ingredients

• 250 g of ricotta
• 2 ripe pears
• 100 g of flour
• 50 g of sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 packet of baking powder for sweets
• Grated lemon zest (to taste)
• A pinch of salt
• Seed oil for frying
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Preparation

1. In a bowl, start by mixing the ricotta with the sugar until it reaches a creamy consistency.
2. Separate the yolks from the whites. Add the yolks to the ricotta and sugar cream and mix well.
3. Peel the pears, remove the core and cut them into small cubes.
4. Add the chopped pears to the ricotta mixture and then also incorporate the sifted flour with the baking powder.
5. Add the grated lemon zest to give a citrus scent, if you wish.
6. In another bowl, whip the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff and then gently fold them into the mixture to not deflate them.
7. Heat plenty of seed oil in a pan and, once it has reached the right temperature, use a spoon to take portions of the batter and fry them until they become golden.
8. Drain the fritters on paper towels to remove excess oil.
9. Dust the still warm fritters with powdered sugar.

Curiosity

Fritters are a sweet treat that can be enjoyed in many Italian regions, especially during the holidays and, in some variations, are also found during the Saint Orso Fair in Aosta Valley or on the menus of village festivals. Ricotta and pears are a classic pairing in Italian pastry, especially in the southern regions such as Campania where the pear and ricotta are typical ingredients of many local sweets.

Remember that you can always modify the recipe to your liking, for example by adding a pinch of cinnamon or vanilla to further flavor the fritters. Happy cooking!