PANZAROTTI DI MOZZARELLA E PROSCIUTTO RECIPE

Ham & Cheese Panzarotti - A classic Italian recipe with a mozzarella cheese filling.

Ingredients: Dough

1 2/3 cups - Sifted flour
1 teaspoon - Salt
6 tablespoons - Butter, melted
1 - Egg yolk

A little milk, as needed

Ingredients: Filling

1/2 pound - Mozzarella cheese, chopped
2 ounces - Prosciutto, cut in slivers
1/2 cup - Grated Parmesan cheese
2 - Eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon - Chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon - Salt
1/4 teaspoon - Fresh ground black pepper
3 - Eggs, beaten with a little water

Fat for deep frying, (half oil and half lard)
Pinch nutmeg

Preparation:

Sift the flour with the salt onto a board in a mound, hollow out the center, and pour in the butter and egg yolk. Work the flour into the liquid with the fingers, adding a little milk from time to time, as needed, to make a smooth, well-blended, firm dough. Wrap it in a clean cloth and let it rest for half an hour. Then put the dough on a lightly floured board, roll it out, and fold it over on itself twice. Wrap it in the cloth again and let it rest while you prepare the filling.

Put the chopped mozzarella, prosciutto, grated Parmesan cheese, and parsley in a bowl; season with the salt, freshly ground black pepper, and nutmeg. Add the eggs, and blend thoroughly.

Divide the dough in half and roll out two sheets, each 1/8 inch thick. Brush one sheet with beaten egg and space small heaps of the filling on it 1 1/2 inches apart. Brush the second sheet with beaten egg and lay it over the first sheet. Press the fingers on the dough all around the spots of filling. Then, with a pastry wheel, cut out  squares, each containing a knob of filling. Press the edges of each square down again to make sure that none of the filling escapes during the cooking.  As you finish the panzarotti, line them up on a lightly floured cloth, taking care that they do not touch each other.

Heat the fat in a deep fryer or skillet to 375° F.

Dip the panzarotti into the beaten egg and drop them at once into the hot fat. Remove them with a slotted spoon after about 6 minutes. They should be crisp and golden. Drain on an absorbent paper. Sprinkle them lightly with salt and serve at once. Serves 6.

Optional filling ingredient: Add 1/2 cup pineapple chunks, diced and drained, to the filling for an extra special sweet, tart and flavorful panzarotti. Serving suggestion: Serve the panzarotti on a bed of marinara sauce and garnish with fresh chopped parsley flakes and Parmesan cheese chips.