Savory donut with cheese and friarielli

Here is a recipe for a savory donut with cheese and friarielli, which represents a beautiful marriage between two very beloved elements of Italian cuisine.

Ingredients

• 300 g of flour
• 3 eggs
• 100 ml of extra virgin olive oil
• 100 ml of milk
• 1 sachet of instant yeast for savory preparations
• 200 g of friarielli (or broccoli rabe if not available)
• 150 g of soft cheese (such as stracchino or scamorza)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 clove of garlic
• Oil for frying

Preparation

1. Start by cleaning the friarielli, removing the hardest parts. Sauté a clove of garlic in a little oil and add the friarielli. Let them cook with a pinch of salt until they are soft. When they’re ready, set them aside to cool.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt and pepper.
3. Add the oil and milk, then gradually incorporate the sifted flour and yeast, stirring to avoid the formation of lumps.
4. Cut the cheese into cubes or crush it with a fork and incorporate it into the batter along with the cooled friarielli. Mix well to evenly distribute the ingredients.
5. Butter and flour a donut mold and pour the mixture into it, leveling it with a spatula.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 30-40 minutes or until the surface of the donut is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Let the savory donut cool for a few minutes before unmolding and serve warm or at room temperature.

Curiosity

This savory donut is perfect as an appetizer or for an outdoor picnic. The combination of friarielli and melting cheese is very common in central and southern Italy, especially in Campania, where friarielli are a traditional side dish. You can customize the donut by adding other ingredients to taste, like cooked ham or Taggiasca olives.