Recipe and photo by Marco Giudizio, Baker
Strufoli are crispy fried balls of dough drizzled with honey that are very popular in Umbria during the carnival season, a timeless classic. They come in many sizes and shapes, and the recipes vary. I got this particular recipe from my mother, who got it from my grandmother, who in turn got it from her mother, and so on. Strufoli are quick and easy to make, you only need a few ingredients to get a really tasty result! Trying is believing! Happy Strufoli Perugini to all!
Ingredients for the dough:
5 medium eggs, 5 tbsp of caster sugar, 500g of sifted 00 type flour (more if needed), 1 envelope of yeast (for sweets), 3 tbsp of Mistrà liqueur, 3 tbsp of rum, the finely grated peel of a lemon (organic if possible), 5 tbsp of extra-virgin olive or vegetable oil, 5 tbsp of milk and a pinch of salt.
For the frying pan:
1 litre of peanut oil
For the topping:
1 jar of acacia honey
Preparation:
Crack the eggs into a mixing bowl with the sugar and beat with a hand-held mixer until it is foamy and stable. Put the milk, oil, grated lemon peel, the liqueurs and 2 tbsp of the flour in another bowl and whip until you get a thick mixture (add some vanilla powder and/or other liqueurs if you like). Gradually fold the sifted flour into the egg-based mixture with a pastry spatula using delicate upward strokes. Then blend in the aromatic mixture. Add the yeast as the last ingredient, with a pinch of salt, and work it until you get a nice elastic ball of dough. Let rest for an hour, covered with a clean, warm cloth.
Heat the oil in a pan to medium heat. Rub some oil on your hands and then make little balls with the dough, pulling them lightly and then placing them delicately in the oil to cook. They should not get golden brown too quickly, the centres should not be left uncooked. Turn them as needed and, after a few minutes, turn up the heat to give them the right colour and become crispy on the outside. Drain well and place them on a tray covered in kitchen paper. Let them cool and then drizzle warmed honey over them. ENJOY!!!.