Discovering pantelleria kisses: Sicily's sweet secret

To say that Italian desserts are excellent is an understatement. Many of us are beginning to recognize the regions these sweets come from, with Sicily leading the way. Treats from the Italian island often feature pistachios, including the well-known cannoli, filled tubes, and almond cookies called paste di mandorla and brioche con gelato, meaning brioche with ice cream. Perhaps soon, we'll also be mentioning Pantelleria kisses among them. They are fried in fat, similar to doughnuts or angel wings, making them perfect for carnival.

Pantelleria kisses are small, charming cookies made from pancake batter with the addition of yeast. This makes them risen and soft. They have a characteristic flower shape, for which a mould is needed, and you can easily buy them online. The cookies consist of two layers and are filled with a cream made from ricotta cheese and chocolate. Ricotta cheese, with a creamy consistency and delicate taste, often resembles our cottage cheese.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 170 g flour
• 120 ml milk
• 1/2 teaspoon dry yeast
• Oil for frying
• Powdered sugar for sprinkling

Filling:

• 250 g ricotta cheese
• 85 g powdered sugar
• 2-3 tablespoons coarsely grated chocolate

Preparation method:

1. Dissolve the yeast in warm milk, add the eggs and mix with a whisk.
2. Next, add the flour and a pinch of salt, and mix everything again with a whisk. The batter should be quite thick. Set it aside for 5 minutes.
3. Heat the oil.
4. Scoop the prepared batter with a flower-shaped mould and place it in the heated oil. The "flower" must be golden on both sides.
5. Place the fried cookies on a paper towel to drain the excess oil. Let them cool.
6. Mix the ricotta with powdered sugar and chocolate pieces.
7. Put the cream on the cookie. You can do this with a spoon or using a pastry bag.
8. Sprinkle the finished cookies with powdered sugar.