Coccoli, as this food is called in italian, is the imperative of the verb “coccolare”, which means “to cuddle”, and it is also the name of the fried dough that Florentines used to eat as a snack during the 50’s. After the war, a walk with friends in the center of Florence would include a stop at the “frigittoria” to buy some fried polenta, donuts, rice fritters or coccoli. Today you can have coccoli in many Florentine restaurants and around Tuscany. They may have different names and shapes but all are served with Tuscan ham and fresh spreadable cheese called “Stracchino”. You can also try to make them at home as a very tasty Tuscan antipasto! Here is the recipe:
