An Italian Grandma's Pizza Fritte Recipe (Fried Dough): From My Family to Yours by Ann Marie G. Halstead

One of my favorite foods from my childhood is pizza fritte, which my Italian mom would make as a snack or dessert for the family. It’s similar to the fried dough you can get at a fair or carnival, only better. I didn’t know anyone else who ate pizza fritte at home, so I thought my mom was the best cook and the most magical mom ever (she was, and still is!). The only complaint she ever got from my Dad, siblings and me was that there was never enough!

Much like fried dough at the fair, you can top homemade pizza fritte with a number of different toppings. For example, you could use tomato sauce, either homemade or store-bought. You can also dip it in powdered sugar, granulated sugar or a cinnamon and sugar mix and more. Some people like to spread butter, jam or honey on the dough. My mom (“Mimi”) has always used either powdered or granulated sugar, and (lucky me!) she always been liberal with it, dipping the fried dough in it or even rolling it in the sugar.

Fried dough was always such a special treat. I still crave it! Now I can make it at home myself with this quick and easy recipe. It’s far less complicated than I assumed it was when I was a kid.

Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 10+

Ingredients

• 1 pound (16 ounces) pizza dough or bread dough (you can find this at your local grocery store or make your own)
• vegetable oil, for frying
• powdered, granulated sugar or cinnamon-sugar

Here’s how to make it:

1. Pour about 1 inch of oil into a frying pan with high sides. Heat it to medium-high.
2. Flour a surface or board and place dough on it. Press down to even it out. Cut into equal sized strips, about 8 pieces. Put some flour on your hands so the dough won't stick, and stretch out the dough as far as it will go without it tearing.
3. Carefully place strips in the hot oil, a couple at a time. Be prepared: they cook quickly! Cook each strip for about 1 minute or until the side facing down is golden, then turn over and cook the other side until it’s also golden. Safety tip: do not walk away from the stove when you’re frying the dough.
4. Use tongs to remove dough from pan and onto a paper towel to drain off excess oil. Immediately add the topping of your choice. Serve warm.

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