French Quarter Calas

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 3/4 cup long grain rice
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, plus
• 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 large egg
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh orange zest (optional)
• vegetable oil, for deep-frying
• powdered sugar

Recipe

• 1 add rice to a saucepan with 2 1/4 cups water; bring to a boil over high heat.
• 2 lower heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 25-28 minutes, until very soft and still a bit soupy.
• 3 uncover rice and let it cool to lukewarm.
• 4 mash the rice lightly with a large fork or spoon.
• 5 stir the yeast into the rice; then add in the flour.
• 6 set the mixture aside for at least an hour at room temperature (or cover and refrigerate overnight, bringing it back to room temperature before proceeding).
• 7 the mixture does not rise like a yeast bread dough, but it does become softer and lighter in color.
• 8 to the rice mixture--add in the egg, sugar, salt, nutmeg, and orange zest; beat with an electric mixer for 1 minute.
• 9 the batter will be somewhat runny.
• 10 set the batter aside to rest for 30 minutes.
• 11 heat several inches of oil to 375° in a heavy saucepan.
• 12 drop the batter by rounded tablespoonfuls; fry about 1 minute, until golden, turning once.
• 13 drain the fritters, then place them on a platter.
• 14 dust with powdered sugar and serve.