Beloved Treat Gets a healthy Makeover: Valentina Salezzi shares Air Fryer Friar Ball Recipe
BUENOS AIRES – Argentine chef Valentina Salezzi is offering a guilt-free twist on a classic treat: bolas de fraile (friar balls). Salezzi recently demonstrated a recipe for the popular snack that skips the traditional frying process, opting rather for an air fryer to achieve a similar texture with significantly less fat.
The recipe, showcased on the program ElTrecetv, aims to deliver the beloved flavor and crispy exterior of fried friar balls while providing a lighter, healthier option for a quick snack or merienda (afternoon tea). This comes as consumers increasingly seek ways to enjoy traditional foods with a focus on wellness.
Salezzi began by combining eggs, sugar, ointment butter, and 0000 flour with a yeast mixture. “Little by little you will be integrating a dough. Until easy,huh?” she playfully instructed. The dough then requires a rising period of 20-30 minutes, or “until you stay like this,” according to Salezzi, who demonstrated “wearing down” the dough with a gentle tapping motion. once formed into balls, they need a second rise, doubling in size before cooking.
The key to the healthier version lies in utilizing an air fryer. “You are going to tell me, Valentina, friar’s balls are fried. Yes, you are right, but we are going to do it at the Air Fryer,” Salezzi explained. “They will be left as if they were fried, but healthy.”
The filling options remain classic: dulce de leche (caramel spread) or custard are recommended, but Salezzi encourages personalization based on individual preference. A cameraman, Juliano, taste-tested the final product to excited applause, reportedly exclaiming, “Prepare La boca… Seeing, Despacito… ¡Uuuh!”
