Ricotta Castagnole (Ricotta Donuts)
375g Plain Flour
9 Tablespoons Castor Sugar
3 Tablespoons Cornflour
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
3 eggs
375g Ricotta Cheese
Zest of 2 Lemons
2 pinches Salt
Canola Oil for frying
Extra Castor Sugar for coating
Method
In a bowl mix together the ricotta, eggs, sugar and lemon zest until creamy.
In a separate bowl combine the flour, cornflour, salt & baking powder.
Add the flour mix 1 cup at a time mixing well after each addition.
Once the dough starts to come together, lightly flour a surface and tip out. bring the mixture together and gently knead to form a smooth ball of dough. If the mixture is sticky only flour your hands don’t add extra flour to the dough itself.
Wrap in a clean tea towel and set aside for 30 minutes.
Cut off pieces of dough and roll into a long sausage shape not to thick as these will grow when you fry them. Cut each strip into about 2cm pieces and roll each piece into a ball.
Once you have all of the dough rolled into balls you can prepare to frying.
In a pot heat up about 8 cm in height of oil, you want the temperature to be a mid heat so the donuts can cook, you may have to adjust it so always try one donut first.
Put one donut in to test oil, it should sizzle but not brown immediately. Using a slotted spoon toss the donut around so all sides cook, it should only take about a minute or two. When the donut is golden brown remove from the oil and drain on paper towel. (This is a good time to check the donut so cut it open and if it is light and fluffy inside and not sticky then it is well cooked, if not adjust the heat slightly).
Cook about eight donuts at a time so you have more control, drain on paper towels for a few seconds then toss in the extra Castor Sugar and set aside on a plate.
Continue until all donuts are cooked.
These are best eaten freshly cooked which is not hard to do but any leftovers the next day can be heated for 10 seconds in the microwave so you have hot donuts again.
This makes a large batch so great for a gathering however I have frozen half of the cooked donuts in an airtight container and the defrosted and reheated in the microwave just before serving.