Nonna Rosa Virone’s Calabrese Honey Balls

Name: Nonna Rosa Virone’s Calabrese Honey Balls (Turdilli)
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: Yield: About 200 honey balls
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 cup (240 ml) sweet red wine; ½ cup (120 ml) vegetable oil; ½ teaspoon lemon extract; ¼ teaspoon sugar; Pinch salt; 1 large egg; 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose or 00 flour, plus more for dusting; 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose or 00 flour, plus more for dusting; ¼ teaspoon baking powder; Oil, for frying; 3 cups (1 L) honey, plus more as needed; Rainbow nonpareils, for decorating

Turdilli

Preparation info

Yield: About
200
honey balls

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
1 hr

Appears in

Cooking with Nonna

By Rossella Rago

Published 2018

About

Turdilli are small fritters of dough made with wine, and are typical of Calabria. They are fried and then dipped in warm honey, and decorated with colorful sprinkles. You can make these with white or red wine, but Nonna Rosa prefers red because it gives the dough a purple tint.

Ingredients

1 cup (240 ml) sweet red wine
½ cup (120

Europe
Italy
Starter
Vegetarian
Christmas

Method

In a small saucepan over high heat, combine the wine, vegetable oil, lemon extract, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and let cool for 15 minutes.
Pour the wine mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the egg. Mix on medium speed until combined.
Reduce the speed to low. Add the flour and bakin