Fritule
Fritule is a traditional Istrian dessert, made at Christmas time. They are made of dough quickly fried in oil which gives them a round look. Traditional Fritule are flavored with rum and citrus zest, containing raisins, and topped with powdered sugar. However, you can buy them in the summertime on stands, covered with white chocolate or Nutella. The real Istrian nona (grandma) will never reveal her secret recipe, but we managed to sneak one traditional recipe so you can try it out at home.
You will need:
400 ml yogurt
2 eggs
2 vanilla sugars
a bit of salt
2 teaspoons sugar
20 tablespoons plain flour
1 baking powder
1 tablespoon rum
frying oil
citrus zest
raisins
1. Mix all the ingredients to get a smooth mixture.
2. Take out the mixture with two spoons and fry in hot oil - but not too hot oil!.
3. As soon as it turns golden, which will be fast, turn them on the other side and let them fry until the end.
4. Take them out in a bowl, in which you can put a paper towel, to absorb the excess oil.
5. Sprinkle them with sugar!
Fritule
Fritule is a traditional Istrian dessert, made at Christmas time. They are made of dough quickly fried in oil which gives them a round look. Traditional Fritule are flavored with rum and citrus zest, containing raisins, and topped with powdered sugar. However, you can buy them in the summertime on stands, covered with white chocolate or Nutella. The real Istrian nona (grandma) will never reveal her secret recipe, but we managed to sneak one traditional recipe so you can try it out at home.
You will need:
400 ml yogurt
2 eggs
2 vanilla sugars
a bit of salt
2 teaspoons sugar
20 tablespoons plain flour
1 baking powder
1 tablespoon rum
frying oil
citrus zest
raisins
1. Mix all the ingredients to get a smooth mixture.
2. Take out the mixture with two spoons and fry in hot oil - but not too hot oil!.
3. As soon as it turns golden, which will be fast, turn them on the other side and let them fry until the end.
4. Take them out in a bowl, in which you can put a paper towel, to absorb the excess oil.
5. Sprinkle them with sugar!
Biškoti - Istrian Cookies
Nothing beats the aroma of freshly baked cookies at Christmas. A recipe we would like to share with you is called Biškoti. These Istrian cookies are small and very simple to make. The baked cakes will last up to 4 weeks inside a box, provided you have hidden them well :-)
You will need:
400 g flour
200 g butter
150 g sugar
1 vanilla sugar
1 baking powder
1 egg
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon water
1. Cube the butter that has not completely softened to make it easier to mix into the dough
2. Mix everything together. Butter cubes, sugar, flour, vanilla sugar, baking powder, and eggs.
3. Form an elastic dough and start shaping it.
4. When working with the dough, use flour so that the dough does not stick to your hands or molds.
5. Bake at 180°C for 10 minutes and enjoy.
Biškoti - Istrian Cookies
Nothing beats the aroma of freshly baked cookies at Christmas. A recipe we would like to share with you is called Biškoti. These Istrian cookies are small and very simple to make. The baked cakes will last up to 4 weeks inside a box, provided you have hidden them well :-)
You will need:
400 g flour
200 g butter
150 g sugar
1 vanilla sugar
1 baking powder
1 egg
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon water
1. Cube the butter that has not completely softened to make it easier to mix into the dough
2. Mix everything together. Butter cubes, sugar, flour, vanilla sugar, baking powder, and eggs.
3. Form an elastic dough and start shaping it.
4. When working with the dough, use flour so that the dough does not stick to your hands or molds.
5. Bake at 180°C for 10 minutes and enjoy.
Christmas Stump
Most houses in Istria used to have a fireplace and it had a special meaning during Christmas time. Not only did it give a special warmth and athmosphere but it was also used to burn a Christmas stump. On Christmas day a big log of wood would be brought to the house and lit on fire. The stump should not burn but smolder and it should not be extinguished until Epiphany (Three Saint Kings) as it symbolises the fire that kept warm the baby Jesus led the Three Kings to him.
Christmas Stump
Most houses in Istria used to have a fireplace and it had a special meaning during Christmas time. Not only did it give a special warmth and athmosphere but it was also used to burn a Christmas stump. On Christmas day a big log of wood would be brought to the house and lit on fire. The stump should not burn but smolder and it should not be extinguished until Epiphany (Three Saint Kings) as it symbolises the fire that kept warm the baby Jesus led the Three Kings to him.
Christmas Caroling
Another Istrian Christmas tradition is Christmas caroling. This tradition is mostly extinct and it is only cherished in small cities of Kaldir and Gologorica. Usually men go caroling from house to house in their neighbourhood singing Christmas songs. The host invites them in their home and offers them food, wine and gifts. This tradition is characteristic for the period between Christmas and Epiphany especially on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.
Christmas Caroling
Another Istrian Christmas tradition is Christmas caroling. This tradition is mostly extinct and it is only cherished in small cities of Kaldir and Gologorica. Usually men go caroling from house to house in their neighbourhood singing Christmas songs. The host invites them in their home and offers them food, wine and gifts. This tradition is characteristic for the period between Christmas and Epiphany especially on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve.
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