Bomboloni
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A traditional Tuscan speciality from Giuliano Bugialli enjoyed by the Italian Jewish Community at Hanukkah, but perfect at any time of year.
Author:
Serves: 60 2inch Bomboloni
Ingredients
  • 1 Russet pototo, 8 ounces or more
  • Kosher salt
  • ¾ cup of unbleached all purpose flour
  • 4½ teaspoons of dry yeast
  • ½ cup of lukewarm whole milk
  • Pinch of salt
  • 3 Tbs. unsalted butter at room temperature
  • Grated peel of 2 large, fragrant lemons
  • 3 large organic eggs
  • 5 Tbs. granulated sugar
  • 2¾ cups unbleached all purpose flour
  • ½ cup lukewarm whole milk
  • Additional 1 cup of flour to roll out the Bombolini
  • 1 quart of sunflower oil
  • 2 cups of granulated sugar to roll the fried Bombolini in
Instructions
  1. Wash the potato well to remove any traces of soil, place it in a saucepan, cover with cold water and add a handful of kosher salt; boil with the skin on until quite soft. Remove to cool until it is easy enough to handle.
  2. While the potato is cooking, prepare the sponge by placing the ¾ cup of flour & pinch of salt into a small bowl; make a well in the center. Dissolve the yeast in the first ½ cup of lukewarm milk and put the mixture into the well. Make a dough by incorporating flour from the sides of the bowl into the milk until all of the flour has been incorporated; I use my fingers at the end of this process to form a more uniform dough. You will have a small, soft ball of dough which should be covered with a clean cotton towel and allowed to rest and rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  3. Gently melt the butter in either the microwave or over the stove - let it rest so as it is not hot.
  4. Once the potato is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and pass it through the holes of a food mill or potato ricer. Measure out 8 ounces or close to that amount to be used in the dough, discard the rest.
  5. Place the melted butter and grated lemon peel in the work bowl of a standing mixer. Add the eggs one at a time on low speed, follow with the 5 tablespoons of sugar. Pull the sponge into several smaller pieces, add this to the work bowl and mix on medium speed until it has been uniformly incorporated; follow with the riced potato and mix until a thick but somewhat smooth batter has been formed.
  6. Start adding the flour ¼ cup at a time waiting until it has been incorporated before adding more. Continue until only ½ cup of flour remains. Add the second ½ cup of lukewarm milk followed by the rest of the flour. The dough should become uniform, soft and golden. Cover the work bowl with a clean cotton towel and allow the dough to rise until doubled - about 1 hour or more.
  7. Have two sheet pans lined with clean cotton towels, flour the towels. Lightly flour a work surface with about half of the 1 cup of flour. Punch down the risen dough, bring it together and lay it on the floured work surface. Lightly flour the top and rollout to about ¼ to ½ inch thick. Cut into discs using a sharp edged 2 inch cutter, laying the cut discs on the well flowered cotton cloth, gently cover with another cotton dish towel. Gather all leftover dough into a ball and again rollout as before, cutting and placing the Bombolini discs on the floured towel. Allow the Bombolini to rest until doubled in size, again about one hour.
  8. Prepare and have in place a paper towel lined tray to absorb the oil from the fried Bomboloni, a second tray with the granulated sugar, and a platter for the finished Bomboloni. Cover the area around the stove and wall with aluminum foil. Have the fully risen Bomboloni alongside the stove. Heat the oil in a deep pot or deep-fat fryer until the temperature reaches 375ยบ. Carefully transfer some of the Bomboloni into the hot oil, taking care not to crowd the pan. Fry for 15 seconds on one side and tip to the other side using a long fork for another 15 seconds. The Bomboloni should be puffy and quite golden. Remove to the paper towel lined tray to absorb any residual cooking oil. While still quite warm roll in the granulated sugar and place on the platter.
  9. Bomboloni can be eaten immediately or later in the day, they are at their best the day in which they are prepared.
Recipe by LaBellaSorella at http://labellasorella.com/2016/12/bomboloni/