Seadas (sebadas)

Seadas (or Sebadas) are a traditional Sardinian dessert, known for the contrasting flavors of sweet honey and cheese.

Ingredients

• 500 g of semolina flour
• 1 egg
• Lukewarm water (as needed for the dough)
• Lard or butter (about 100 g)
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 300 g of fresh pecorino cheese, but semi-aged is also fine (it should be grateable)
• Sugar (optional)
• Oil for frying (preferably olive oil)
• Arbutus honey or other honey (as needed)

Preparation

1. Start by preparing the dough: place the flour in a well shape and in the center, add an egg, a pinch of salt, melted butter or lard, and the grated zest of lemon. Knead everything together, adding lukewarm water little by little, until a smooth and elastic dough is obtained.
2. Let the dough rest, covered with a clean cloth, for about 30 minutes.
3. In the meantime, grate the pecorino cheese and mix it with a pinch of sugar if you want a slightly sweet filling.
4. Roll out the dough into a sheet that is not too thin and cut out discs about 10-15 cm in diameter.
5. Place a small mound of grated cheese on half of the discs, then cover with the remaining discs. Make sure to seal the edges well to prevent the cheese from leaking out during cooking.
6. Fry the Seadas in abundant hot oil until they are golden brown on both sides.
7. Drain them and place on paper towels to remove excess oil.
8. While still warm, drizzle with honey, preferably arbutus if you want to follow Sardinian tradition.

Trivia

Arbutus honey is particularly loved to accompany Seadas because its slightly bitter taste beautifully contrasts with the richness of the cheese and the crispiness of the fried pastry, creating a balance of flavors that is highly appreciated. Seadas represent a symbolic dessert of Sardinia, and although they are a sweet dish, sometimes they are also served as an appetizer or a main course.