Sweet Rice Sfinci (sfinci di riso)
Sweet Rice Sfinci (sfinci di riso) are a Sicilian specialty traditionally eaten during Carnevale or St-Joseph's Day. These doughnut like fritters are made with sweet orange scented rice and rolled in sugar for serving.
- Prep time
- 40 min
- Cook time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 30 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
- 1 cup arborio rice
- 3 cup whole milk (low fat milk will do)
- a pinch salt
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 orange zest
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- granulated sugar (for rolling the sfinci in)
Instructions
- 1
Combine milk, a pinch of salt and arborio in a medium sized sauce pan. Slowly bring to a boil, then lower to a gentle simmer. Cook with the lid on, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed, from 20-25 minutes. The rice will still have some bite to it.
- 2
Transfer to a wide, shallow bowl and stir in sugar, the grated zest of 1 orange and vanilla extract. Let cool for about 30 minutes. Stir in one egg yolk.
- 3
Sift flour and baking powder and stir into the rice mixture.
- 4
Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy bottomed pan. When the oil is hot use a cookie scoop (I used a 1 tbsp. scoop) or a soup spoon to scrape balls of the rice mixture into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pan as the sfinci will puff up slightly as they fry. Fry until all sides are golden and crisp.
- 5
Transfer the fried sfinci to a paper towel lined tray to absorb excess oil. Let cool slightly before tossing in granulated sugar. Serve warm or at room temperature.