Home

Savory Fritters

17/11/2023

Savory fritters are a very versatile and tasty appetizer, perfect for different types of occasions.

Ingredients

  • 250 g of flour
  • 200 ml of warm water
  • 1/2 packet of dry yeast (or 12 g of fresh yeast)
  • 1 teaspoon of sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • Oil for frying
  • Extra ingredients of your choice for the filling or flavoring (e.g., cheese, ham, herbs, zucchini, bell peppers)

Note: The extra ingredients depend a lot on your tastes and should be added to the batter base.

Preparation

  1. In a bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water with the teaspoon of sugar. Let it sit for a few minutes until it starts to form bubbles on the surface.

  2. In a large bowl, sift the flour and add the salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the water and yeast mixture.

  3. Start mixing with a spoon, gradually incorporating the flour from the outside towards the center, until you get a smooth batter. If you have decided to add extra ingredients, incorporate them now.

  4. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place, away from drafts, for about 1-2 hours or until it doubles in volume.

  5. Once the batter has risen, heat plenty of oil in a deep frying pan or in a deep-fryer. To check if the oil is the right temperature, you can dip the tip of a wooden skewer: if you see bubbles forming around it, it’s ready for frying.

  6. With the help of two spoons, scoop portions of batter and gently slide them into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pan to avoid the fritters sticking together or the oil cooling down too much.

  7. Fry the fritters until they turn golden on all sides, then drain them with a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to remove excess oil.

  8. Serve the fritters hot, possibly accompanied by sauce or seasoning of your choice.

Curiosity

Fritters can vary greatly among the different Italian regional traditions and lend themselves to be customized with the ingredients you have available or according to your creativity.

Remember that the basic batter for savory fritters can be enriched with various types of herbs, spices, or cheeses, to better match the type of filling chosen or depending on the wine or cold cuts you wish to pair it with. An Italian touch could be the use of grated Parmesan or diced mozzarella, perhaps with a pinch of fresh basil for a nod to the classic Margherita pizza.