Ricette di Sicilia
Cibo, cultura e tradizioni siciliane
Sicilian Batter-Fried Cardoons - A Crisp and Comforting Winter Treat
Discover these wonderfully crisp Sicilian batter-fried cardoons - a festive winter classic with rustic charm and irresistible flavour.
🛒 Ingredients
- ✓ 1 kg plain flour
- ✓ 25 g fresh baker’s yeast
- ✓ 1.5 kg wild cardoons
- ✓ Juice of 1 lemon
- ✓ Extra-virgin olive oil
- ✓ Salt
📊 Nutritional Information
Light, crisp and irresistibly golden, Sicilian Batter-Fried Cardoons are one of the island’s most cherished festive treats. Often enjoyed during the Christmas season, they bring together two hallmarks of Sicilian cooking: simple ingredients and deep, traditional flavour.
Originally part of the bustling street food culture of Catania, Palermo and Messina, fried cardoons have long stood alongside icons like pane e panelle and pane cà meusa. Their delicate sweetness - reminiscent of artichoke but gentler - pairs beautifully with the crunch of a well-risen batter.
Cardoons come into season in winter, when their flavour is at its best and their mineral-rich leaves offer a natural sense of nourishment. Preparing them requires a little patience, but the reward is a steaming platter of crisp, fragrant fritters ready to share with family and friends. The scent alone feels like a warm embrace from a Sicilian kitchen.
👨🍳 Preparation
- 1
Blend the flour with the fresh yeast dissolved in a little warm water.
- 2
Add salt and knead until you have a smooth, even dough.
- 3
Leave to rise in a warm place for 1½ to 2 hours, or until doubled in size.
- 4
Clean the cardoons thoroughly, remove the fibrous strings and boil them in water with the lemon juice.
- 5
Season with salt and cook for around 45 minutes until tender.
- 6
Drain well, pat dry, dip into the batter and fry in plenty of hot oil until golden.
- 7
Serve the cardoons hot and crisp.
💡 Tips and Variations
For a bolder taste, add a pinch of black pepper to the batter. If you prefer a lighter alternative, you can bake the cardoons at 200°C for about 20 minutes instead of frying.
📦 Storage
- • Refrigerate for up to 2 days.
- • Cooked cardoons may be frozen for up to 1 month.
- • Reheat in the oven at 160°C for 10 minutes before serving.
🍷 Pairing
Enjoy with a glass of Cerasuolo di Vittoria, a Sicilian red whose fruity, gently spiced notes pair beautifully with fried dishes.
Thank you for exploring this traditional Sicilian recipe. These batter-fried cardoons bring a touch of the island’s festive warmth to any table. I hope you enjoy every crisp, flavourful bite - and share them with those you love.
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