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Ricette di Sicilia

Cibo, cultura e tradizioni siciliane


⏱️
Prep Time
15 minutes plus rising time
🔥
Cook Time
15 minutes
👥
Serve
Serves 4
📊
Difficulty
Easy
💰 Low
🗓️ All year round
4.8/5

🛒 Ingredients

  • 100 g strong white flour (Manitoba type)
  • 150 g plain flour
  • 150 ml room-temperature water
  • 5 g fine salt
  • 2 g fresh baker’s yeast
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • Caster sugar, to taste
  • Ground cinnamon, to taste

There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about this Sicilian fried sweet bread. It’s the kind of treat many grew up with - impossibly simple, irresistibly fragrant, and always prepared with love. Crisp on the outside and soft within, each bite releases that familiar warmth of cinnamon drifting through the kitchen.
In Sicily, this humble snack often appears during long afternoons, family gatherings, or when unexpected guests drop by. Made with only a few pantry staples, it manages to feel indulgent without effort. What truly makes it special is its honesty: a risen dough, fried until golden and tossed in cinnamon sugar while still warm.
Whether you enjoy it alongside a cup of tea or as a sweet finish to a meal with a small glass of dessert wine, this fried bread brings a little Mediterranean sunshine to any moment.

👨‍🍳 Preparation

  1. 1

    Place both flours in a mixing bowl and crumble in the yeast with a splash of lukewarm water (approximately 25°C).

  2. 2

    Stir with a wooden spoon, gradually adding the remaining water and the fine salt until a soft, smooth dough forms.

  3. 3

    Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes until elastic and supple.

  4. 4

    Cover the dough with a bowl and let it rest for 10 minutes. Shape it into a ball, place it in a clean bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and leave to rise in a warm place for around 2 hours, or until doubled in size.

  5. 5

    Roll out the dough on a floured surface to a thickness of about 5 mm, then cut into rectangles or diamonds.

  6. 6

    Heat plenty of vegetable oil in a frying pan and fry the dough pieces until golden on both sides.

  7. 7

    Drain on absorbent kitchen paper to remove excess oil.

  8. 8

    Mix caster sugar and cinnamon in a shallow dish and coat each piece of warm fried bread generously.

  9. 9

    Arrange the pieces on a serving tray and serve warm, ideally with a glass of sweet Sicilian Passito wine.

💡 Tips and Variations

For an even more aromatic touch, add a teaspoon of honey to the dough. You can also mix a little finely grated lemon zest into the sugar for a delicate citrus note.

📦 Storage

  • Store the fried sweet bread in an airtight container at room temperature for 2–3 days.
  • Keep it away from heat and humidity to preserve its crispness.

🍷 Pairing

This cinnamon-scented fried bread pairs beautifully with a Sicilian Passito wine, whose rich sweetness and aromatic notes enhance the warm spices.

Simple, fragrant, and steeped in tradition, this fried sweet bread captures the comforting spirit of Sicilian home cooking. Whether served as a nostalgic afternoon treat or as a sweet finale to a meal, it’s a recipe that deserves to be cherished.

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