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Sciatt
Buckwheat cheese fritters
Sciatt: Valtellina's crisp buckwheat fritters with a melting cheese heart
ItalianSciatt means "toads" in the dialect of Valtellina, the Alpine valley near Sondrio, because of their lumpy shape. They are buckwheat batter fritters, each hiding a cube of Valtellina Casera cheese that melts as they fry, served on a bed of chicory salad. Mountain huts and village festivals serve them hot from the pan in autumn and winter. Local cheeses are usually made with animal rennet; choose a vegetarian melting cheese if you need to. Chef's tip: make the batter with very cold sparkling water and a splash of grappa, as locals do; the bubbles and alcohol make a lighter, crispier crust. The alcohol mostly cooks off in the frying; leave it out for an alcohol-free version.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz buckwheat flour
- 1 ¾ oz plain flour
- ¾ cup sparkling waterice cold
- 1 tbsp grappaopt
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 pinch bicarbonate of soda
- 7 oz Valtellina Casera, fontina or a vegetarian melting cheesecut into 2 cm cubes
- 3 ¼ cups sunflower or peanut oilfor frying
- 3 ½ oz chicory or radicchiosliced, to serve
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Whisk 5 ½ oz buckwheat flour, 1 ¾ oz plain flour, ½ tsp salt and 1 pinch bicarbonate of soda with ¾ cup sparkling water and 1 tbsp grappa, if using, into a thick batter. Chill for 30 minutes.
30 minStep 2: Freeze 7 oz Valtellina Casera, fontina or a vegetarian melting cheese cubes for 15 minutes so they don't melt out too soon.
15 minStep 3: Heat 3 ¼ cups sunflower or peanut oil in a deep pan to 350°F.
8 minStep 4: Drop the cheese cubes into the batter, then lift them out one at a time with a spoon, well coated, and drop them into the oil. Fry for 2–3 minutes, turning, until crisp and dark golden. Common mistake: thin batter; if it doesn't cling, stir in a little more buckwheat flour.
12 minStep 5: Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot on a bed of 3 ½ oz chicory or radicchio.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 450 kcal
- Protein
- 17 g
- Carbs
- 30 g
- Fat
- 30 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does sciatt take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of bicarbonate of soda?
- Baking powder, three times the amount (the bake may taste slightly different).
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