Zeppole for La Festa di San Giuseppe

Today (19 March) is La Festa di San Giuseppe (the Feast of Saint Joseph), a Catholic feast day celebrating the earthly father of Jesus.  Celebrations in the middle of Lent are usually non-existent, but since it's St. Joseph's day, sweets and celebrations are the order of the day!  Go to a Catholic church and you might find all sorts of things going on, from processions to St. Joseph's Tables/Altars laden with all sorts of goodies. Some of my favorite goodies that are made around this time of the year are zeppole.

San Giuseppe

Zeppole are deep-fried balls of dough, covered in powdered sugar.  Simple, but extremely delicious.  It's quite easy to make your own, which in my opinion is the best way to do it, since they are at their most delicious when they're still hot!

To make zeppole, start with 1 teaspoon of active dry yeast and 2 teaspoons of sugar.

I know it looks like there is more yeast than sugar here,
but it spread out a bit more than the sugar.

Then add 3/4 cup of warm water and stir for 2 minutes until the yeast and sugar is dissolved.

In another bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups of flour with 1 teaspoon of salt.

Then, pour in the yeast mixture and mix until it's all blended.

The dough will be super sticky.  It's normal.  Cover with a cloth and set in a warm spot to rise for an hour. (I usually wet a paper towel with warm water, wring it out and place it over the bowl, then I place a tea towel on top of that.  That way, when it rises, it won't get stuck to the tea towel.)

When it's ready, it will look something like this:

Very poofy, yet still sticky

Pour some vegetable oil in a pan until it is about 2 inches deep.  Keep the oil heated to 190°C /375°F. Drop dough, 1 teaspoon at a time, into the hot oil and cook until golden in color.

Remove from the oil and drain (I use a couple paper towels over a cooling rack).  Then toss in powdered sugar.

These little puffs are absolutely delicious and so easy to make, you really have no excuse not to try it yourself!

Zeppole

1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
vegetable oil for frying
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 cup warm water
powdered sugar

Combine the yeast and sugar in a small bowl and add the warm water.  Stir for 2 minutes to completely dissolve the yeast and sugar.
In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt.  Add the yeast mixture and stir until blended.  Cover and place in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
Pour the vegetable oil into a pan until it is 2 inches deep.  Heat to 190°C /375°F.  Drop the dough, 1 teaspoon at a time, into the hot oil and fry until golden in color.
Remove from the oil and drain on a paper towel, then toss in some powdered sugar.

Buon Appetito!