She Strengthens

Citrusy Fritters: A Sweet and Crisp Delight

Winter’s Citrus Bounty

As the winter season unfolds, the citrus selection reaches its peak, offering a vibrant array of flavors and aromas. This recipe takes advantage of this bounty, combining the sweetness of honey, the tanginess of blood oranges, and the brightness of orange juice to create a truly unique dessert.

Special Equipment Needed

To achieve the perfect fritters, you’ll need a few specialized tools: a deep-frying/candy thermometer, a pair of tongs, and a bamboo skimmer. These will help you maintain the ideal temperature and texture for your fritters.

Game Plan: Customization at Its Finest

For an added touch of elegance, consider serving the honey and blood orange pieces separately, allowing your guests to dip and garnish their fritters as they please. This thoughtful gesture will elevate the dining experience and create a memorable impression.

Pareve Recipe for All to Enjoy

This recipe is carefully crafted to be pareve, making it accessible to individuals with dietary restrictions. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or simply looking for a special treat, these citrusy fritters are sure to delight.

Yield and Difficulty

This recipe yields 6-8 servings and is classified as medium in terms of difficulty. With a total preparation time of 1 hour and 40 minutes, and an active cooking time of 40 minutes, you’ll be rewarded with a truly exceptional dessert.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 5 teaspoons honey (bright floral honeys like orange blossom, thyme, or fireweed work best)
• 3/4 cup warm water (around 105°F to 115°F)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon orange flower water
• Olive and canola oil for frying
• Powdered sugar for dusting
• 2-3 blood oranges, peeled and cut into segments

Instructions

1. Initial Preparation: Combine yeast and 1 teaspoon of honey with warm water in a small bowl. Let it sit until the mixture starts to bubble, about 5 minutes.
2. Flour Mixture: In a large bowl, stir together flour, orange zest, and salt until combined.
3. Egg Whites: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on high until they’re glossy and stiff, about 3 minutes; set aside.
4. Yeast Mixture: Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add yeast mixture, olive oil, and orange flower water. Gently stir ingredients together until just incorporated.
5. Folding Egg Whites: Carefully fold in whipped egg whites until just incorporated (be careful not to overmix—the batter will be slightly lumpy).
6. Rising: Cover the bowl with a cloth and leave in a warm spot until contents look very frothy and have doubled in volume, about an hour.
7. Frying: Fill a large heavy-bottomed pot fitted with a deep-frying thermometer with 3 inches of oil (1/2 olive, 1/2 canola) and heat to 360°F over medium heat. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set aside. Working in batches, drop rounded tablespoons of dough into hot oil. Fry until honey-gold, turning as needed with tongs, about 3-4 minutes. Remove to the paper towel–lined baking sheet.
8. Assembly and Serving: Dust fritters generously with powdered sugar and assemble on a serving plate. Drizzle with remaining honey, scatter blood orange segments on top, and serve.

Beverage Pairing Suggestion

For a truly exceptional pairing, consider Braida Brachetto d’Acqui, an Italian wine that’s pink, sweet, and redolent of strawberries and raspberries. This wine has the sweetness to enhance the fritters, but a different-enough flavor profile to create an intriguing combination.