Pastella (Battered and Fried Vegetables)
Pastella (Battered and Fried Vegetables) Description


Having grown up in the south with grandparents who had an enormous garden, vegetables were a staple in my life, sautéed, fried, baked, stuffed, you name it and we probably prepared any and every vegetable in that manner. One of my favorite memories is eating fried zucchini and in the early summer, green tomatoes. Yes, I’m from the south and lived a big part of my life eating fried green tomatoes! So, imagine my delight when I discovered while living in Venice, Italy that one of the most enjoyed summer items is la pastella which is fried vegetables in a light and fluffy batter. This batter is great with any vegetable that is in season and is your favorite. – Debbie

(click on photo to enlarge)

Ingredients
At a glance
Appetizers
Serves
6


3 zucchini
2 red bell peppers
1 cup sifted flour
2/3 cup water (more if needed)
Salt to taste
Vegetable oil for frying

Methods/steps


Wash and dry the zucchini and peppers. Cut the zucchini into sticks or slices and the peppers into strips. Place the water into a bowl and then slowly incorporate the flour, whisking constantly. Once you have added all the flour, you should have a consistency somewhat like sour cream, depending on how thick you like your batter, you may add a little more flour for a thicker batter or water if you like it a little thinner, but you don’t want it too thin as it won’t adhere to the vegetables. If using a skillet for frying, add enough oil to come up the sides at least 1 inch, and heat the oil until hot enough that when you add a pinch of batter, it sizzles. If you are using a deep fryer, heat your oil to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.


Add a handful of vegetables into the batter and then after coating the vegetables, add to the hot oil one at a time, making sure not to overcrowd the skillet or basket of the fryer. Fry until evenly browned, normally about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the oil, place it on a brown paper bag or paper towel lined plate for draining, and sprinkle with salt. Serve immediately.

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