Olive Oil Fried Bread: My Caribbean Flittas Recipe
One of my favorite comfort foods has always been what my mom called flittas in her beautiful San Andrés Island accent. At its core, it’s olive oil fried bread, but for me, it’s also a reminder of home, resilience, and the kind of meals that carry you through every season of life.
This recipe is incredibly simple, which is probably why it stayed such a staple in our home. If you’re not confident with baking measurements, don’t worry. My mother never measured anything, and honestly, neither do I. That’s part of the charm.
I use self-rising flour, water, a little sugar, and olive oil for frying. The sugar is important because it helps create that soft, airy texture inside. You shouldn’t actually taste sweetness, though. It’s just enough to help the dough puff slightly while cooking.
The best part? There’s no pressure to make these perfectly shaped. Mine never are. I simply tear off pieces of dough, flatten them a bit, and fry them until golden. They always taste amazing anyway. 😂
A Comfort Food That Got Me Through Hard Times
This olive oil fried bread recipe honestly got me through some difficult financial seasons in life. When money was tight, flour and oil could still become something warm, filling, and comforting.
Even now, making flittas reminds me that some of the most meaningful foods are also the simplest.
I usually eat them plain with hot tea, but they work beautifully with both sweet and savory toppings.
For this version, I paired them with:
- Queso con carne (my cheesy brisket sauce)
- Homemade fig preserves
Both are absolutely delicious.
Watch the Recipe
Watch me make these homemade flittas here:
And if you love homemade preserves, don’t miss:
Diane’s Homemade Sugar Free Fig Preserve Recipe
