Sicilian Sfince: A Culinary Tradition Honoring Saint Joseph with a Delicious Fried Dough Recipe

In Sicily, the air is filled with the aroma of fried sweets as bakeries prepare for the feast of Saint Joseph. In the eastern part of the island, rice zeppole are generously drizzled with honey, while in the west, the focus shifts to Sfince, a traditional treat with origins tracing back to the nuns of the Monastery of the Stigmata of St. Francis in Palermo. These fritters, originally made with lard, are now often prepared with butter for a lighter texture. Food blogger Federica Genovese shares her recipe, highlighting the use of high-quality Maiorca flour for exceptional lightness and flavor. The recipe involves cooking a dough of water, butter, salt, and flour, then incorporating eggs. The dough is fried until golden, halved, and filled with sweetened ricotta cheese. The top is then decorated with more ricotta, chocolate shavings, pistachio granules, and candied cherries.