Donzelle
Ingredients
- 500 g 00 flour
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp salt
- 25 g fresh yeast
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 300 ml water
- neutral oil for frying
- fleur de sel for finishing
Instructions
- Place the flour into the bowl of a food mixer. Add the salt and sugar on one side of the bowl and crumble the yeast on the other side.
- Add the olive oil and mix on a low setting using a dough hook. Slowly add the water until the mixture comes together. Continue to mix for a further 5 minutes.
- Alternatively, place all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl, bring together with your hands and knead for about 10 minutes
- Shape the dough into a ball (you may need to grease your hands with olive oil as it will be quite sticky) and grease a large bowl with olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl, cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and leave to rise until the dough has doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
- When the dough has risen, knock the air out of it then form it into a ball. Sprinkle some flour over the top, cover with a tea towel and leave to rise again for about 30 minutes.
- Place the dough on a floured board and roll out until about ½cm thick. Using a pastry wheel, cut into rectangles about 5cm by 2½ cm.
- Preheat the oil in a large saucepan or deep fryer to 180°C
- Carefully drop the donzelle into the fryer and cook for about 5 minutes, or until puffed and lightly browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Sprinkle with a little fleur de sel.
- Serve warm with Italian cheese and salami, and perhaps a nice glass of Chianti or other Tuscan wine.
Notes
Recipe inspired by Great Italian Chefs