Breakfast Sweets: Lemon Ricotta Fritters

I get a little intimidated with it comes to deep frying things. I know, I know, what kind of southerner am I? But these lemon ricotta fritters could not be easier. The batter comes together quickly and painlessly, and you'll know the fritters are ready once they turn a perfect golden brown. Easy peasy? Yes, and also lemon squeezy. The payoff are these airy, tart, beignet-like bites of heaven.

If you're feeling ambitious, try the mixed berry jam that goes along with these. You can make it in advance, and it's an unexpectedly delicious compliment to the tartness of the fritters. These make for a fantastic fancy breakfast or brunch treat (and go along nicely with this cocktail), but they're also a totally acceptable form of dessert.

Lemon Ricotta Fritters with Fresh Berry Jam
Recipe courtesy of Bobby Flay and Cooking Channel

Note: I halved this recipe and ended up with 12 fritters and an abundance of jam.

4 to 6 cups vegetable oil
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk ricotta
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
Lemon zest, for garnish

Heat 2-inches vegetable oil in a large, wide, heavy saucepan until it registers 370 degrees F. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, zest, and salt in a bowl. Whisk together the ricotta cheese, eggs, granulated sugar, and vanilla in another bowl, then whisk into the flour mixture. Working in batches, gently drop in tablespoons of batter and fry, turning occasionally, until deep golden, about 3 minutes per batch. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Dust generously with confectioners' sugar, garnish with lemon zest and serve with Quick Berry Jam.

Fresh Berry Jam, for accompaniment
1 pound fresh strawberries, tops cut off and halved
1/2 pint blackberries
1/2 pint raspberries
1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar, depending on sweetness
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Combine the berries and 1/2 cup of the sugar in a bowl and coarsely mash with a potato masher. Let the berries sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to allow the berries to release some of their juice. Taste for desired sweetness and add remaining sugar if necessary. Transfer berries to a medium saucepan, add lemon juice and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate until chilled or to serve immediately: transfer to a bowl and set the bowl over an ice bath, stirring until jam is cooled. Yield: approximately 2 pints