Best 6 Sfinge Recipes

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In the heart of Italian culinary heritage, nestled between the bustling streets of Rome and the enchanting canals of Venice, lies a delectable treat that captures the essence of pure indulgence: Sfinge. These delightful fried dough balls, also known as Italian doughnuts, are a symphony of flavors and textures that have tantalized taste buds for generations. From the classic Sfinge Siciliane, boasting a light and airy interior with a crispy golden crust, to the decadent Sfinge di San Giuseppe, filled with a velvety custard cream and topped with a dusting of cinnamon, each bite promises an unforgettable gastronomic journey. Whether you prefer the simplicity of the traditional recipe or crave the richness of filled variations, this article presents a diverse collection of Sfinge recipes that cater to every palate. Let your taste buds embark on a culinary adventure as we delve into the secrets of crafting these delectable delights, ensuring that every bite transports you to the vibrant piazzas and charming trattorias of Italy.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SFINCI (SICILIAN FRIED DOUGH)



Sfinci (Sicilian Fried Dough) image

It's not Christmas Eve without our sfinci (Sicilian fried dough). These leavened fried dough balls are delicious savory or sweet!

Provided by Nadia Fazio

Categories     antipasto

Time 4h25m

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon sugar
1 (8 grams) envelope dry yeast
4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
vegetable oil, (for frying (canola oil will do))

Steps:

  • In a small sauce pan, warm until lukewarm. Pour 1/2 cup of the water into a small bowl and stir in sugar. Pour the yeast over the water and let stand 10 minutes.
  • Pour the remaining 2 cups water in a large bowl. Stir in the yeast mixture. Add the flour and salt and using your hand, stir the mixture vigorously in a circular motion. Continue stirring this way for about 5 minutes until you have a thick, smooth dough.
  • Cover well, using blankets if you wish, and place in a warm, draft free location in your kitchen. Let sit for 4 hours. Your unlit oven with the light on is a good option. The dough is ready when bubbles form on the surface and it has at least doubled in size.
  • Fill a heavy bottomed sauce pan half way with vegetable oil. Slowly heat the vegetable oil on medium high heat. In order to test if it is hot enough, take a small piece of the sfinci dough and drop it in the oil. If it immediately begins to sizzle, the oil is ready.
  • Use a tablespoon or soup spoon to drop the dough into the hot oil, scraping off the spoon with your finger or another spoon. Do not overcrowd your pan. After about 1 1/2 minutes, carefully turn the sfinci over to brown the opposite side.
  • When they are a light golden color, remove the sfinci with a slotted spoon and place on a dish covered with paper towels to absorb the excess oil.
  • Serve hot.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 103 kcal, Carbohydrate 11 g, Protein 1 g, Fat 6 g, SaturatedFat 5 g, Sodium 66 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, ServingSize 1 serving

ZEPPOLE



Zeppole image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories     dessert

Time 50m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 vanilla bean
1/2 cup sugar, plus 3 tablespoons
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 stick butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 eggs
Olive oil, for frying

Steps:

  • Cut open the vanilla bean lengthwise. Using the back of a knife, scrape along the inside of the vanilla bean to collect the seeds. Scrape vanilla bean seeds into a small bowl. Add the 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon and stir to combine. Set aside.
  • In a medium saucepan combine the butter, salt, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and water over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Take pan off the heat and stir in the flour. Return pan to the heat and stir continuously until mixture forms a ball, about 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the flour mixture to a medium bowl. Using an electric hand mixer on low speed, add eggs, 1 at a time, incorporating each egg completely before adding the next. Beat until smooth. If not frying immediately, cover with plastic wrap and reserve in the refrigerator.
  • Meanwhile, pour enough oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 375 degrees F.
  • Using a small ice-cream scooper or 2 small spoons, carefully drop about a tablespoon of the dough into the hot olive oil, frying in batches. Turn the zeppole once or twice, cooking until golden and puffed up, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Toss with cinnamon-sugar. Arrange on a platter and serve immediately.

SFINGE



Sfinge image

A recipe that was from my Sicilian grandmother (Nana). I don't know if it is original, but I cooked this as a child and now for my grandchildren. I hope it gets passed on to my great-grandchildren.

Provided by Barbara Nazworth

Categories     Other Desserts

Time 1h10m

Number Of Ingredients 9

4 eggs
1 c water
2 Tbsp sugar
2 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
MIXTURE TO ROLL SFINGE IN:
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 c sugar

Steps:

  • 1. Beat Eggs and Water, blend well and set aside.
  • 2. Combine dry ingredients together (sugar, flour, baking powder, salt). Stir into egg mixture. Cover and set in warm place for 30 minutes.
  • 3. Drop 1 tbsp of batter in oil (3 at a time) or you can also use some oil in a pan to cook the sphinge. Drain on paper towel.
  • 4. On wax paper combine sugar and cinnamon together. Roll the sphine in the mixture

ITALIAN SFINGI (ITALIAN DOUGHNUTS)



Italian Sfingi (Italian Doughnuts) image

These Sicilian doughnuts are delicious served warm! The recipe comes from one of my favorite cookbooks titled "Cucina Deliziosa", which was compiled by the Charity Guild of Saint Joseph in Houston, Texas.

Provided by Kim D.

Categories     Breads

Time 30m

Yield 1 batch

Number Of Ingredients 9

3 cups flour
3 tablespoons sugar
6 teaspoons baking powder
3 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon vanilla
corn oil (for frying)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Steps:

  • Mix flour, sugar, and baking powder.
  • Add eggs, water, and vanilla; mix well.
  • Drop batter by tablespoons in hot, deep oil.
  • If oil is hot enough, sfingi will cook and turn over without help.
  • If not, turn with a large spoon to brown on both sides.
  • Add as many sfingi that will fit in skillet or deep-fryer.
  • Fry until golden brown.
  • Drain on paper towels.
  • Combine powdered sugar and cinnamon.
  • Sprinkle warm sfingi with powdered sugar and cinnamon mixture.
  • Delicious served warm!

ST. JOSEPH'S DAY CREAM PUFFS / SFINGI DI SAN GIUSEPPE



St. Joseph's Day Cream Puffs / Sfingi Di San Giuseppe image

This is a traditional Italian pastry made on March 19 in celebration of the feast of St. Joseph. The traditional filling for these cream puffs is sweetened ricotta, however a vanilla or almond flavored pasticciera (pastry) cream may be used instead. This recipe should make at least 16-20 sfingi.....depending on how small or large you make the circles, you may end up with more or less shells. Note: If you can't find Impastata ricotta (aka pastry or cannoli ricotta), regular ricotta will work well if you drain it well (preferably overnight), and then beat it (or use food processor or blender) until very creamy.

Provided by Dee514

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h40m

Yield 16-20 Sfingi

Number Of Ingredients 13

1/2 cup butter
1 pinch salt (1/8 teaspoon)
1 cup water
1 cup pastry flour
4 eggs
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest (optional)
1/2 teaspoon finely grated fresh orange zest (optional)
1 lb impastata ricotta (or regular ricotta cheese, well drained)
1 teaspoon almond flavoring (or 1 jigger amaretto)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2-1 cup confectioners' sugar (10x or powdered sugar)
1 (28 ounce) can water, packed well drained sour pitted cherries (or well drained, pitted Morello cherries)

Steps:

  • For cream puffs: Combing butter, salt and water in a sauce pan.
  • Bring mixture to a boil.
  • Add flour all at one time, mixing well by hand (with a wooden spoon), until the dough forms a ball and leaves the sides of the pan.
  • Remove pan from heat, and let cool a little.
  • Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
  • Add sugar and grated lemon and orange peels, and mix thoroughly (dough should have a slight gloss or sheen to it).
  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Line a large sheet (or jelly roll) pan with parchment.
  • Attach a# 4 tip (large star tip) to a pastry bag.
  • Fill the pastry bag with the dough, and squeezing the dough through the bag, form donut shaped circles on the parchment, be careful that you do not move the bag too quickly or the dough will be stretched too thin.
  • The dough circles should be about 1 inch thick.
  • Leave a 2-inch space between each circle.
  • Bake at 400F for about 10 minutes, reduce heat to 325F and bake for 30 minutes more or until golden brown.
  • Remove from oven, carefully cut a small slit horizontally into the side of each puff, place on a rack to cool.
  • When completely cooled, carefully slice each puff in half horizontally (forming a top and a bottom).
  • Filling: In a large bowl; cream the drained ricotta well, until very smooth.
  • Add flavorings and stir to blend well.
  • Add sugar and mix well, filling should be thick (stiff) enough to hold its shape, if it is not, add more sugar.
  • Fill a pastry bag fitted with a# 4 tip (large star tip) with the ricotta mixture.
  • Squeeze the filling on to the bottom half of each puff.
  • Place cherries on top of the filling (spaced about 1/2 inch apart).
  • Replace tops on the puffs, and gently press down just enough to press the cherries part way into the filling.
  • Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until serving.
  • Sfingi may be lightly dusted with a sprinkle of powdered sugar before serving (optional).
  • Note: Sfingi are best served/eaten the day they are made, because once they are filled, the puffs can soften.
  • The puffs may be made a day ahead, and filled before serving.
  • The filling may be made a day ahead of serving and stored (covered) in the refrigerator.

SFINGI



Sfingi image

Sfingi are also called zeppole. You'll never realize you're eating ricotta cheese! These are very good - be sure to eat them while they're warm.

Provided by KITTYCATGRL

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 1h40m

Yield 15

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 pound ricotta cheese
2 eggs
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ½ tablespoons baking powder
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 quarts vegetable oil for frying
¼ cup honey
¼ cup confectioners' sugar for dusting

Steps:

  • In large bowl, combine ricotta, eggs, sugar and vanilla. Mix together baking powder and 1/2 cup flour. Fold into ricotta mixture. Add enough of remaining flour to make a thick batter. Let rest 1 hour.
  • Heat oil in large heavy saucepan over high heat until a small amount of batter dropped in oil sizzles and starts to color. Drop batter by teaspoons into hot oil and deep fry until golden. Remove with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
  • Stack sfingi on serving platter in a pyramid. Drizzle stack with honey and dust with confectioner's sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 218.5 calories, Carbohydrate 16.6 g, Cholesterol 34.2 mg, Fat 14.9 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 5.2 g, SaturatedFat 3.2 g, Sodium 148.3 mg, Sugar 8.5 g

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients for the best results.
  • Make sure the milk is lukewarm, not hot, before adding the yeast. Hot milk will kill the yeast and prevent the dough from rising.
  • Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. This will help to develop the gluten in the flour and make the dough strong.
  • Let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size. This will give the yeast time to work and produce carbon dioxide gas, which will make the dough light and fluffy.
  • Fry the sfinge in hot oil until they are golden brown and crispy. Do not overcrowd the pan, or the sfinge will not cook evenly.
  • Serve the sfinge hot, dusted with powdered sugar.

Conclusion:

Sfinge are a delicious and easy-to-make Italian pastry that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are a versatile dish that can be served with a variety of toppings, such as powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or fruit. Sfinge are also a great way to use up leftover dough. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced cook, you will be able to make delicious sfinge with this recipe. So what are you waiting for? Give it a try today!

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