Coccoli, Tuscan fried bread

Coccoli, Tuscan fried bread

Coccoli, Tuscan fried bread

Coccoli is another interesting food I ate on my travels. This time was at a backstreet new-ish restaurant in Florence after a nice walk around town on my trip with Celebrity Cruises and Great British chefs on the #celebrityGBC, we found La Cuccina Del Ghianda.

Coccoli dates back to the 50’s when Florentines used to eat them as snacks at small establishments in town. It is served with Tuscan ham and fresh white and very tasty spreadable cheese called “Stracchino”. Back in London, I found the recipe and reproduced it at home. It turned out perfectly and exactly as the ones I ate in Florence. They are small deep fried bread balls – delicious.

If you are in the area or you are planning a trip to Florence look them up: La Cuccina Del Ghianda, via Dell’Agnolo, 85-91, Florence  t: +39 055 386 0534

 

Coccoli, Recipe

 

(Tuscan bread dough fritters)
Makes about about 20-22 balls
Ingredients
• 500g flour (allpurpose)
•  350ml water  (1.5 cups) at room temperature
+ 100ml lukewarm
•  25gyeast
•  Saltapprox 1 dessert spoon
•  sugar ( a pinch)
•  Extra virgin oil ( 2 tablespoons)
•  Plentyof oil for frying
Coccoli, Tuscan fried bread
Coccoli
Method
1) place the flour in a large bowl.

 

2) in another bowl, dissolve the yeast in 100ml of lukewarm water, add a pinch of sugar, mix well

 

3) pour  the yeast mixture in to  the bowl with flour  and mix with fingertips

 

4) slowly add the 350ml of room temperature water, stirring continuously

 

5) add 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin oil and knead until the dough is soft and not sticky.

 

6)cover the bowl with a damp cloth and let rise until the dough has doubled in volume, about 30-60 mins.

7) heat the oil for frying in a deep pan  at medium heat.Coccoli are completely immersed in hot oil.. Flour your fingers and make walnut
size balls of the dough. Fry the balls in medium heat oil.  Drain the balls in kitchen paper and addflaky salt . Serve very hot balls with prosciutto crudo and soft cheese. Perfect!

Thanks to Tuscany in a Nutshell for sharing this recipe.

 

Coccoli, Tuscan fried breadCoccoli, Tuscan fried bread
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