I’m really not a big fan of frying, but for these I had to make the sacrifice, and I just so happen to have exactly 1 lb. of ricotta sitting in my frig. The key is make sure you’re not alone, and have company over so you can share these while they are still warm. Timing is everything so make sure you have the coffee brewing!
Surprisingly, you don’t use a lot of oil at all and because they cook up so fast, they don’t have a heavy taste at all, in fact they’re crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside.
I happen to love the flavor of chocolate and orange together, so that’s what I used, but you can get creative with the kind of liqueur flavor you want. Most recipes call for brandy and lemon zest, but you could also use rum. I didn’t measure my mini chocolate chips either, I just sprinkled some in the batter. I didn’t want to over power the ricotta.The texture on the inside is a little like the inside of a souffle, one bite and you’ll be smitten!
The recipe makes about 35 2″ fritters.
I highly recommend you invite some friends over, you might not be able to stop at just a few!!
Here’s the recipe!3 eggs, lightly beaten
2 Tbl. sugar
1 lb. ricotta
1 cup flour
4 tsp. baking powder
2 1/2 Tbl. Grand Marnier
Zest of 1 orange
Mini chocolate chips
Pinch of salt
Vegetable or Canola oil
Confectioners sugar
Combine eggs, sugar, ricotta, flour, baking powder, Grand Marnier, zest and salt in a medium bowl. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Pour oil into a wide but shallow saucepan, a couple inches deep, and heat over medium-high heat. Drop rounded teaspoons of batter into hot oil and fry, a few at a time, until golden, about 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels, dust with powdered sugar, and serve!
I’m Marie, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, and gramma of two beautiful girls. My passion is food, clear and simple but especially Italian food, hence the name of my blog, Proud Italian Cook. I want you to feel right at home here so grab a cup of coffee, I’ll get the pastries, take a look around and enjoy your visit! {
Becky as stated I just sprinkled some mini chocolate chips into the batter, I didn’t want to overpower it with chocolate so you can be the judge as to how much you want, as far as the zest goes I stated it in the recipe, the zest of one orange goes into the batter.
Marie your recipe makes no mention of what to do with the orange zest or mini chocolate chips. That’s a big oversight don’t you think?
HI Marie – I love your blog!! So many great recipes I want to try. This will be my first 🙂 Can I use the store ricotta or does it need to be fresh ricotta. Love the idea of making the batter a day before.
Happy New YEar 🙂
Absolutely Janet! If you make it the day before, just make sure you bring it to room temperature.
Hope you enjoy them!
Marie,
Can this batter be made ahead of time and then prepared at the end of a dinner party.
gosh these look fantastic! bookmarked!
like mini doughnuts. 🙂
Marie… this is a cool one..I started visiting ur blog thru Cynthia…And absolutely love ur dishes..this is a must try…
I have to try this sweet version of the ricotta fritters, but I will certainly fry these instead of baking them like I did with the savoury version.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Welcome Anita! Let me know how you like them!
Oh my goodness, I will be making these as soon as the oil heats up! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Marie-
These look great; first (and last) time I had Ricotta Frittura (help on the spelling? Marie? maryann? Joe? someone??)was in the retail market on Arthur Ave… one of the produce ghuys set up a little fryer and was selling them by the bag full. Maryann was on target: these are like zeppole but lighter… I looked for a recipe for a long time- thanks for the help, Marie; you continue to be instrumental in my need to maintain a schedule that includes large amount of rigorous ‘roadwork’ (and I mean that in the best possible way!!)
Johnny T
So yea – those fritters will be on my to-do list!
-DTW
http://www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com
Oh, my gosh, I truly can’t remember the last time I had one of these. They looks perfect, Marie, just perfect!
Wow, I have to bookmark this. We make our own ricotta so it would be wrong if I didn’t make this. Thanks for the great recipe!
oh my god… this is AWESOME!
Oh my God they look sooo delicious and I bet they are :9
I’m not a huge fan of deep frying too Marie, but this is different!! Orange & choc are on my list of fantastic combinations too…these look lovely! I’m like….WOW!!
Oooo…I love fritters of anything, and since I love ricotta, this looks like a match made in heaven for me. I must make this!
Marie!! Thanks so much for watching the episode. I’m glad you liked it… I had a blast taping it! If you read the latest post, you’ll see my comments and personal thoughts on it now that it’s aired!
and, can I please get a batch of these fritters! Grand marnier is my absolute favorite…great job…
Oh, my, I can smell them frying and I’m ready to join in! They look delicious, Marie, and I love your serving ware.
when I saw the name I thought it was going to be a savory recipe and I was so excited to turn it into a blue cheese fritter:( However, they do look very yummy and with coffee I am sure I could forget about blue cheese fritters…for a little while at least.
Those fritter look nice and moist and good all covered in snow.
Hmmm, this seems delicious…
These look great! Let me know next time you are making these so I have time to get over there! LOL!
Love the new design! It looks awesome!!!
I am definitely going to take your advice about having friends over even though I am not a cheese lover. These look gorgeous and the insides look fit to make the strongest person, weak!
They look divine! I would never measure the chocolate chips either. And while I love chocolate, too much in a dessert can over power it.
Yes, yes, these are very dangerous indeed as some of my guests found out recently. They are definitely impossible to eat just one. I love all the comments here, they are very funny.
I haven’t seen you new look here or you nice Chicago’s best blog badge, both are looking very good, very nice indeed!
It is not just a recipe, it comes with instructions for use; don’t be alone, have company over, make sure coffee is brewing. You are so cute Marie.
I am smitten just by the photos Marie:D
Nina, I hope you get to make this for your family.
Michelle, I’m a huge ricotta fan too!
Thanks Courtney!
Jenny, they are adorable aren’t they!
Rowena, I feel the same way
Eat, You really don’t need a big pan, wide and shallow.
Laurie, I can drink hot coffee in 100 degrees.
Amy, sorry to tempt you, you can always were a cover up 😀
Knitting, thanks for the visit, I stopped by to say Hi, and I’ll be back.
Gabi, do it once and get it out of your system.lol
Helen, Hi, I’ll have to come by and check out your chocolate, yummm!
Hi Pat, Definately lighter!
I’ve made these, too, Marie when I had leftover ricotta — they are addicting! As you said they are lighter than “zeppoles” or the fried dough of Italian street festivals, but just as delicious! The chocolate chips are a nice addition.
Hugs, Pat
I usually use Grand Marnier for my homemade chocolate. Great idea in this recipe.
Oh my goodness! I never deep fry but I’m gonna have to try these! 🙂
I’m a huge fan of Ricotta, I just like spooning in on Pasta actually.
But these little darlings look wonderful, I’m sending my sis “In A Gargen” over to check these out, we both love to cook Italian food!!
Great Blog by the way!!!
Mmmmm. You are so right about the timing. I make churros sometimes & they’re best just after they cool for a moment. These look oh-so-wonderful!!! You are so naughty to tempt us like this. Honestly, I’d much rather enjoy a few of these in lieu of getting into a bathing suit.
xoxox Amy
I love these!! Oh yumm! And they always taste better when someone else makes them.. I can’t wait to have these with hot coffee! Isn’t it funny how hot coffee is still so good in the summer! 🙂
HUGS!
Oh how I hate to fry, but now I’m going to have to drag out my big stock pot and make a batch of your fritters. My kids thank you in advance.
I agree with the not frying, or at least eating less fried food, but there are always exceptions to the rule. These are one of them!
Those fritters are soooo calling my name. They are adorable and totally tempting!
Oh you are killing me with the delicioiusness of it all.
Holy cow! You’ve outdone yourself this time. Anything with Ricotta and I’m there! Would you believe, I have all the ingrediants on hand?
Heck woman, what are you doing – I am drooling at 5.oo in the morning. Thx for sharing, this is going to be such a treat for the family.
I’m speechless, absolutely speechless! Divine doesn’t come close to how amazing those fritters look. *sigh* I think I need to go lay down for a moment!
Thanks gloria!
Ohio, Consider it passed!
Maryann, I have some waiting for you!
Jen,I really think you’d like them.
Bridgett, They are decadent!
Peter, Just give me those appetizers you just posted Stat!!Courier sounds good to me!
Hi Bunny, Thats why you have to share, very dangerous indeed!
these look fantastic and dangerous!!lol!
Marie, shall we trade…my savory for your sweets? I can send mine with overnight courier…I want ricotta fritters STAT!
What decadent little treats! You have some of the best ideas I have seen!
These look beyond amazing! WOW!
Kinda like Zeppoles, right Marie? I’ll be right over 😉
OMG those look wonderful. I have a cup of tea, pass me a fritter 🙂
Marie this look absolutely nice and georgeous!! yumm! Gloria