Sweet Rice Sfinci (sfinci di riso)

platter of sweet rice sfinci with orange slices behind it

Sweet Rice Sfinci (sfinci di riso)

Sweet Rice Sfinci (sfinci di riso) are a Sicilian specialty traditionally eaten during Carnevale or St-Joseph's Day. These doughnut like fritters are made with sweet orange scented rice and rolled in sugar for serving.

Course Dessert

Cuisine Sicilian-Italian

Keyword sweet rice sfinci, sweet rice fritters, Sicilian rice sfinci

Prep Time 40

Cook Time 10

Resting time 30

Total Time 1 20

Servings sfinci

Calories 64kcal

Author Nadia Fazio

Ingredients

1 cup arborio rice
3 cups whole milk low fat milk will do
pinch salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 orange zest
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
granulated sugar for rolling the sfinci in

Instructions

Combine milk, a pinch of salt and arborio in a medium sized sauce pan. Slowly bring to a boil, then lower to a gentle simmer. Cook with the lid on, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed, from 20-25 minutes. The rice will still have some bite to it.
Transfer to a wide, shallow bowl and stir in sugar, the grated zest of 1 orange and vanilla extract. Let cool for about 30 minutes. Stir in one egg yolk.
Sift flour and baking powder and stir into the rice mixture.
Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy bottomed pan. When the oil is hot use a cookie scoop (I used a 1 tbsp. scoop) or a soup spoon to scrape balls of the rice mixture into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pan as the sfinci will puff up slightly as they fry. Fry until all sides are golden and crisp.
Transfer the fried sfinci to a paper towel lined tray to absorb excess oil. Let cool slightly before tossing in granulated sugar. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

The rice can be cooked a day ahead and refrigerated overnight. Bring to room temperature before stirring in the egg yolk; flour and baking powder.
Replace the orange zest with lemon zest.
Drizzle with honey instead of rolling in granulated sugar.
Add a handful of raisins to the cooled rice mixture.
These sfinci, as all other fried sfinci, are best served right away. They tend to soften up when left out too long.
Please note that the nutritional information provided is approximate and may vary according to exact portion size and ingredients used.

Nutrition