Chiacchiere di Carnevale Recipe
“Le Chiacchiere” are a traditional Italian sweet, made during the period of Carnival. Everyone is talking about these twisty treats commonly eaten in abundance on the days before Lent and in particular on Martedi Grasso (Shrove Tuesday), oh wait, that’s today!
Don’t worry, it’s not too late! With simple ingredients, that you probably already have in your kitchen, you can whip up a batch of these sweet and yummy treats. There are a million and one recipes out there, with everyone having their own personal version passed down from generation to generation.
Here is a simple chiacchiere recipe you can try:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp of vanilla extract
2 tbsp dry white wine
1/4 tsp salt
vegetable oil (for frying)
powdered sugar
Have you got everything? Awesome, let’s start!
Step 1:
Mix together all ingredients kneading them into a smooth, soft dough. Place the dough in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest for approximately 15 minutes.
Step 2:
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough until it is about 1/8 inch thick. Cut the dough into long strips (about 1/2 inch wide). You can choose to leave the ribbons as is or twist them into bows. In some parts of southern Italy, they make a small slit in the middle of the ribbon and twist.
Step 3:
In a deep frying fan, pour enough oil to allow the strips to fry without touching the bottom of the pan (about 1 inch should do fine). When the oil is hot, carefully place the strips of dough into the pan, but don’t overcrowd the pan. Once they become golden one side, flip them over and do that same to the other side. Transfer them to a cooling rack so that any excess oil can be drained. Before they have cooled down, sprinkle them with powdered sugar.
Enjoy your chiacchiere hot or at room temperature.
What do you typically prepare and eat on Martedi Grasso? Have you ever tried Chiacchiere?
Leave your comments below and if you make chiacchiere recipe, I’d love to see your photos!
If you want to find out what I’m up to, you can keep up with my daily life and musings over on the Calabrisella Mia Facebook Page and Instagram!
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Image Earth Travel
February 14, 2021 at 3:01 amMade during Christmas and Easter, we called these crostoli when growing up. With a mother from the north and father from the south, maybe this was a happy compromise! 😉
LuLu
February 14, 2021 at 8:15 amNothing wrong with eating these twice a year! 🙂
Carnevale in Cosenza – Calabrisella Mia
February 28, 2017 at 5:07 pm[…] street sweepers can be heard as we consume the last of our chiacchiere and bid addio to another Carnival […]
karenincalabria
February 25, 2017 at 3:37 amLove them! (but haven’t ever made them myself)
LuLu
February 25, 2017 at 4:11 amI made them with a friend who always made them with her mom. It actually wasn’t too difficult considering anything that involves a dough (basically everything in Italy hahaha) is usually a disaster with me. 😂
karenincalabria
February 25, 2017 at 4:42 amThat’s the way I feel. I make my bread in a bread machine in the U.S., and in Italy I figure I can buy good bread and pastries. I know it isn’t the same as kneading it myself and shaping it for the oven, but it’s the next best thing. Your recipe does sound pretty straightforward though… Maybe next year.
LuLu
February 25, 2017 at 4:51 amIf you give it a try, let me know 🙂
Jan Kinderman
February 24, 2017 at 4:44 pmBrings back memories of my Nonna. 😍
LuLu
February 25, 2017 at 4:13 amI love chiacchiere! We didn’t always have them growing up, so I’m spoiling myself now 😊