In carnival times it is time to dare to enjoy pan sweets. Today they can throw us back due to the bad reputation of fried foods, but it is worth recovering these delicacies on the most appropriate dates.
On this occasion we give ourselves to others Italian sweets, the castagnolefollowing the recipe of a woman from Murcia who masters carnival recipes like no other, and similar masses such as the typical wind fritters or some aromatic grandmother’s apple fritters.
As María herself comments, despite the fact that these little delicacies look like fritters, in reality when you sink your teeth into them they are more reminiscent of fried donuts, even slightly of homemade donuts. They are very easy to prepare and I recommend doubling the quantities, since they are devoured in a breath and hold up very well for a couple of days if they are stored well. They are typical of the Emilia Romagna area and their name apparently comes from the shape they have, which is reminiscent of chestnuts.
Place the sugar in a bowl with the chopped butter, the anise, the zest of half a previously washed lemon and the egg. Beat with a whisk until you have a mixture without lumps.
Add the flour with the chemical yeast and a pinch of salt, and work everything very well until you have a homogeneous massmalleable and soft, not sticky or dry.
Take portions of roughly the same size and form balls with your hands. We can lightly grease them if they stick. Place the formed castagnole on a tray.
Heat plenty of olive or sunflower oil until reaching a temperature between 160ºC and 180ºC and fry until well browned. Do not fill the space too much, do it in batches.
Place the fried castagnole on kitchen paper and then batter in a mixture of granulated sugar and icing sugar.
LEHRMANN Stainless Steel Whisk 25 cm Wire Whisk Professional Pastry Whisk
With what to accompany the castagnole
It is impossible not to immediately try one of these delicious castagnole italian carnival when they are still hot. They are a delicious snack accompanied by hot chocolate or sweet liqueur, perfect for breakfast or a snack, or for after-dinner coffee.
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