Italian Strufoli
This dessert is one of my favorite Italian confections. It's traditionally served at Christmas. But, I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be eaten all year round. It has a great honey flavor and is really pretty, too!
Ingredients
| 3 cups |
flour |
| 5 | eggs, medium & slightly beaten |
| 1/4 cup | butter |
| 1 Tbsp | sugar |
| 1/4 tsp | salt |
| 1 Tbsp | grated lemon rind |
| 1 quart | oil for deep frying |
| 1 1/2 cups | honey |
| 1 Tbsp | grated orange rind |
| 4 Tbsp | colored sprinkles |
Place 1 ½ cups of flour in a large mixing bowl.
Make a hollow in the center of the flour and pour eggs into it. Add the egg yolk, butter, sugar, salt and lemon rind.
Work the mixture with a wooden spoon until a dough forms (add remaining 1 ½ cups flour as necessary to make the dough workable).
Knead the dough on a floured surface until it becomes smooth and is not sticky.
Cut small pieces of dough and roll them into thin ropes. Cut the ropes into ¼ inch pieces. Roll each piece into a tiny ball.
Heat the oil (at least 2 inches deep in the pot) to about 370 degrees.
Fry a handful of the Strufoli at a time, until they are golden brown.
Remove the fried Strufoli with a slotted spoon and let drain on paper towel.
Melt the honey in a medium sauce pan on medium heat and stir in orange rind.
Add the Strufoli to the honey mixture, stirring very gently with a wooden spoon.
Coat them well with the honey, then remove from pan and pile them on a decorative platter.
Sprinkle with colored sprinkles and and cool.
Makes about 12 servings.