Tortelli di Carnevale (Italian Carnevale Doughnuts)

Doughnuts are typical of Carnevale in Italy, the famous festival in the days leading up to Lent. Each region, and indeed each family, has its own recipe. In Milan and the Lombardy region, Carnival donuts are called ‘tortelli’ and they are flavored with anise liqueur, grappa, and lemon zest.

Step: 1

Combine water, butter, and salt in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in flour until well mixed. Return saucepan to medium heat; cook and stir until dough starts to pull away from the sides of the saucepan, 3 to 5 minutes.

Step: 2

Remove saucepan from heat and stir anise-flavored liqueur, sugar, grappa, and lemon zest into dough. Cool dough to room temperature, at least 30 minutes.

Step: 3

Beat egg yolks into the cooled dough until well mixed. Cover bowl with a clean towel and let rest for 3 hours.

Step: 4

Beat egg whites in a bowl until stiff peaks form; gently fold into the dough until no white streaks remain.

Step: 5

Heat lard in a heavy saucepan over medium heat or in a deep fryer. Form dough into balls the size of golf balls; fry in the hot lard in batches, until doughnuts are lightly browned and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes.

Per Serving: 299 calories; protein 5.3g; carbohydrates 30.1g; fat 14.5g; cholesterol 93.7mg; sodium 49mg.

The best flavour of the flour can make a real deal to your bread. Different brands do vary. Great taste or Canadian flours, which are bet higher in gluten, may give you a best rise than standard dough flours – especially if you’re make wholemeal bread , which not always getting bigger as well as white bread.

To make this in a dough , add all the ingredients to your breadmaker and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

A dough’s first rising can be done in the fridge overnight . This slows down the time it takes to rise to double its size, giving it a deeper flavour. It’s also a great limit , as you can work it night before , then clear it off the next day.