Zeppole di San Giuseppe, a fried dough specialty made for the festival of St. Joseph from Enna, Sicily are loved throughout southern Italy. They are very much associated with the same festival in Naples. The origin of zeppole, or zippula in Sicilian, comes from the Arabic zalābiyya meaning fried soft dough.
Sfinge (Italian Zeppole)Delicious, Deep fried donuts topped with powdered sugar - the classic Italian Zeppole.
Alaimo, who is a third-generation baker, explains that the sfingi is filled with ricotta, while the zeppole di San Giuseppe (of Saint Joseph) sports a creamy custard middle. He says that zeppole is the less traditional of the two and mainly created for those who didn't like the sfinigi's cannoli-type ricotta filling.
St. Joseph's Day is a Roman Catholic feast day commemorating the life of the stepfather of Jesus and husband of Mary. The altars began soon after their arrival as a way to honor St. Joseph for the relief he provided during a famine in Sicily many years before.
Zeppole (Italian cream puffs) are ricotta-filled pastries traditionally made for the feast of St. Joseph, and a sweet treat for any season.
Let's start with the origin: Beignets hail from France whereas zeppoles are the Italian counterpart. Both are fried, but beignets tend to be square in shape; the word originates from “buyne,” meaning bump or lump. Zeppoles, known as “fried soft dough” are circular treats that are a staple on Festa di San Giuseppe (St.
Joseph's Day, Italian tables are filled with fig dishes, including fig cookies. (St. Joseph also happens to be the patron saint of pastry chefs.) Zeppole or Sfinge — dough fritters covered in sugar — are also traditionally eaten on this day.
Zeppole that have been prepared and fried can also be stored in the fridge or freezer. Allow the zeppole to cool completely. Store the zeppole in an airtight container and place in the fridge or freezer, depending on how soon you plan to use them. Store in the fridge for 2-3 days and the freezer for up to 6 months.
What is Zeppole? Zeppole are an Italian pastry similar to Bomboloni and are basically fried donut balls made out of Cream Puff dough. They are very popular during St. Josephs Day in Italy which is also Italian Father's Day.
Zeppole are essentially Italy's version of beignets, which are similar to a doughnut or churro. Interestingly, Olive Garden spells the dish "Zeppoli" on their menu.
Per zeppole: 125 calories, 2 grams protein, 13 grams fat, 4 grams carbohydrates, 4 milligrams cholesterol, 50 milligrams sodium, 53 percent calories from fat.
Olive Garden Zeppoli Soft, traditional Italian doughnuts dusted with powdered sugar, served with chocolate sauce for dipping.
Directions
- In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, salt, eggs, evaporated milk, and blend well. Mix in 4 cups of the flour and beat until smooth.
- Roll out dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut into 2 1/2 inch squares.
- Shake confectioners' sugar on hot beignets. Serve warm.
Zeppole can be reheated in the microwave for about 10-20 seconds. You can also reheat in a 350 degree oven for 3-5 minutes. If you are reheating from a frozen state I would double those times.
Saint Joseph is frequently invoked for employment, daily protection, vocation, happy marriage, and a happy death. Multiple venerated Catholics have described their devotion to Saint Joseph and his intercession.
Tradition says the statue should be buried upside down and facing toward the direction of the desired moved. Joseph statue upside down is symbolic for the St. Joseph needing to work extra hard to get back to right side up and into a place of honor, thus helping to bring forth a buyer to purchase the home.
Already a patron saint of Mexico, Canada and Belgium, in 1870, Joseph was declared patron of the universal church by Pope Pius IX, and in 1955 Pope Pius XII established May 1 as the "Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker" to counter the Communists' May Day.
Joseph's Day, just two days later on March 19, became a chance for Polish-Americans and Italian-Americans to express their cultural pride with the "wearing of the red," a color that appears in both countries' flags. Parades and huge meatless feasts were known as St. Joseph's Tables or St. Joseph's Altars were held.
Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary and foster father to Jesus. Every year, on the Saturday nearest March 19th, a parade and meal steeped in Italian-American traditions honor the feast day of St. Joseph, the patron saint of Sicily.
