Tea & Lemon Ricotta Fritters for a Cause

Television hostess, Kelly Ripa is hosting a virtual “Tea Party for a Cause” which supports the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund whose mission is to fund research to find a method of early detection and ultimately a cure for Ovarian Cancer*. When you join Kelly's virtual tea party and select a perfect tea party outfit, Electrolux will donate $1 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, and you'll be entered for a chance to win an Electrolux Perfect Steam™ washer and dryer.

In conjunction with Kelly Ripa’s “Tea Party for a Cause,” Foodbuzz and Electrolux are partnering to host a “Top 9 Tea Party Takeover” this Friday, March 25th.  To celebrate, we are having our own tea party! The crisp Spring air is perfect for the bright bold flavors of citrus, so what better to go with a hot pot of Orange Pekoe than some lemon fritters?

While “fritter” is a generic term that refers to fried batter or dough, there is nothing generic about these tangy and succulent nibbles. These make a very beautiful treat, but they are so delicate and scrumptious that they will likely disappear before anyone notices how pretty they are!!

• 1 pound whole milk ricotta cheese
• 4 large eggs
• 2/3 cup all-purpose four
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• Zest of one lemon
• Vegetable oil for frying
• Confectioner’s sugar for dusting

Whisk ricotta and eggs together until well mixed and slowly incorporate flour and sugar then fold in butter, lemon extract and zest and salt. Cover the batter and let it sit for up to an hour before frying.

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and line a cookie sheet in paper towels. Pour enough oil into a large saucepan to come halfway up the sides of the pan and heat over high heat until oil reaches 365 degrees Fahrenheit.

Using a tablespoon, gently drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil. Don’t put too many in at a time because they will stick together if crowded. Cook the fritters for about 3 minutes each, turning once to ensure that they are nicely browned on all sides. Using a wire skimmer or slotted spoon, remove fritters from the oil and place on the paper towels and place in the preheated oven to stay warm while you make the remaining fritters.

When all the fritters are done, plate the fritters and dust with plenty of confectioner’s sugar. I use a small sieve to sift the sugar over the plate. We have plenty of lemon balm growing in the garden, so I add some to the plate as a garnish to enhance the lemony fragrance. These make a very beautiful treat, but they are so delicate and scrumptious that they will likely disappear before anyone notices how pretty they are!!

*Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among American women.