Torta Fritta (Fried Dough Italian Style)

Ingredients

• 2/3 cup whole milk
• 5 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 3/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• peanut oil or lard, for frying

Directions

1. 1

   In a small saucepan, combine milk and 1 1/3 cups water. Heat to 110F or until warm to touch; remove from heat.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, combine 5 cups of the flour, yeast and salt; make a well. Add olive oil and warm milk mixture and, using a wooden spoon, stir until dough just starts to form.

3. 3

   Turn out onto a well-floured surface and knead until soft and elastic, adding more flour by the tablespoon as needed to keep dough from being too sticky, about 15 minutes.

4. 4

   Transfer dough to a clean bowl, cover with a clean dishtowel, and let rise until almost doubled, about 45 minutes.

5. 5

   Punch down dough and turn out onto a lightly-floured surface. Roll out to a ¼ inch thick rectangle, and cut into (about 50) 2 by 3 inch rectangles, transferring cut pieces to a sheet of parchment paper with space between each piece.

6. 6

   Fill a deep saucepan with 1½ inches peanut oil and heat to 365F Fry dough pieces in batches, turning them before they are halfway done, until puffed and golden brown on both sides, about 1½ minutes total.

7. 7

   Using a slotted spoon, transfer torta frittas to paper towels in order to drain. Serve immediately.