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5 from 5 vote

Chiacchiere ( Italian Carnival Fried Pastries)

A typical Italian fried treat enjoyed during the holidays. Chiacchiere are found in different places in Italy during the famous Carnevale festivities!
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Carnevale, Fried Dough
Servings: 40 pieces
Calories: 10kcal
Author: Lora

Ingredients

  • 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 3/4 Tablespoons dry white wine grappa, or rum or even brandy or even orange juice
  • 1 1/2 cups 200 grams all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
  • Oil for frying

Instructions

  • In bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat egg and egg yolk with the sugar at medium speed until pale in color.
  • Add the sugar, salt, olive oil and dry white wine; beat until combined.
  • Slowly add in the flour a little bit at a time and mix on low speed until combined.
  • Remove the dough from the mixer and place on a clean counter.
  • Begin kneading the dough. Add more flour a little at a time if it is too sticky.
  • Knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  • Cut dough into 4 pieces and cover in plastic wrap. Chill dough for about one hour.
  • When dough is ready to work with, take out the first portion from the refrigerator.
  • Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface (counter or pastry board)to a thickness of about 1/8 inch.
  • Using fluted pastry wheel, cut your dough into long strips, 3 to 4cm (1.5in) wide and then cut every strip into 10cm (4in) rectangles.
  • Continue rolling and cutting the rest of the dough.
  • Line rimmed baking sheet with three layers of paper towels (to drain excess oil). Fill deep saucepan with oil; heat oil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and fry them a few at a time.
  • Fry until lightly golden one one side, then carefully flip over and fry the other side until lightly golden.
  • Remove the pastry strips with slotted spoon and drain on paper towel lined cookie sheet.
  • Repeat with the remaining strips of dough.
  • Dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Notes

  • I prepared these by hand using a rolling pin and rolling the dough quite thin can be a bit of a workout but you can also roll the pastry dough with a pasta machine.
  • Along with the various given names these sweet fried pastry strips are also cut and shaped in various ways, squares, rectangles, diamonds, thin strips tied in loose knots and of course, the bow shape that I’ve prepared.
  • Chiacchiere cook quickly so it's important to make sure you're flipping them over frequently for even browning. Fry a few at once and never overcrowd the pan in order to achieve optimal results.
  • To prevent your dough from drying out, be sure to keep it covered at all stages - whether it's in unrolled form, or has been cut into strips. Keeping the rolled sheets and chiacchiere pieces well-covered will ensure a smooth baking experience!
  • Chiacchiere can be prepared with a variety of alcoholic beverages, including grappa, brandy, marsala or white wine.

Nutrition

Calories: 10kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.001g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Sodium: 0.1mg | Potassium: 0.5mg | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 0.1mg | Iron: 0.01mg