Italian Desserts Recipes - Chestnut Fritters (Fritelle di Castagne) Recipe

Ingredients                               

• 900 g/2 lb chestnuts

• 150 ml/2/3 cup milk

• 100 g/4 oz/1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 5 ml/1 tsp vanilla essence (extract)

• 3 egg yolks

• 1 egg, beaten

• 30 ml/2 tbsp fresh breadcrumbs

• Oil for frying

• 30 ml/2 tbsp vanilla sugar

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Method:

1. Make a slit in the shell of each chestnut and boil for 15 minutes. Remove the outer shell and inner brown skin.

2. Alternatively use canned chestnuts: Put in a saucepan with the milk, sugar and vanilla essence. Cook for 15 minutes until soft.

3. Press through a sieve (strainer) or puree in a blender or food processor. Beat in the egg yolks. Leave to cool, then chill.

4. Shape into small balls. Roll each ball in the beaten egg and then the breadcrumbs.

5. Fry (sauté) in hot oil until brown and drain on kitchen paper. Sprinkle with the vanilla sugar and serve immediately.