I Vecchiaredde (Stuffed Fritters) – Appetizer/Side Dish
A typical Calabrian fried food that can be prepared in various ways both in the type of dough and in the shape, which can be: elongated, donut or ball. They can be prepared without filling or with different types of filling but the most traditional preparation is with anchovies, furthermore, they can be prepared both savoury and sweet.
Ingredients for four people:
• Flour 400 gr
• Anchovy fillets in oil 40 gr
• Warm water 300 ml
• Mother yeast 100 gr or ½ cube of brewer’s yeast
• Salt 2 level teaspoons
• Sunflower seed oil (for frying) 1.5 Lt.
Procedure:
• Place the flour and yeast in a bowl
• Start dissolving the yeast in the water
• Add the other water, incorporating the yeast into the flour until you get a very soft dough
• Add the salt and continue to work the dough
• Cover the bowl with cling film and let it rise for approximately 3 hours
• After the mixture has risen, start heating the oil in the pan
• The oil must reach a temperature of 155/160 °
• To fry the fritters without anchovies, just create little balls of dough with two spoons and dip them in hot oil
• Let’s cook them for 2 or 3 minutes per side
• To make the ones with anchovies, you have to insert them into the dough using the two spoons
• Let’s place the fritters on a plate with absorbent paper
• Our fritters are ready to be enjoyed.
