Sicilian Cassata Recipes

CASSATA SICILIANA

Steps:

• In a food processor, blend the almonds and pistachio together until you have a very fine crumb. When you press it between your fingers it should almost hold together, like a dough. Set aside.
• Place the sugar and water together in a small saucepan over a low-medium heat and bring to the boil. Let it boil for about 10 to 15 minutes or until when you dip a spoon in it, rather than drip, the syrup should thread. Remove from the heat and add the nuts to combine with a wooden spoon. Turn out onto a clean, smooth surface to cool.
• When cool enough to handle but still warm, form into a ball and roll out with a rolling pin to a thickness of 1/3 inch (8 millimeters). If the marzipan sticks at all, dust with powdered sugar. Cut the marzipan into strips the height of your pie tin then cut those strips into pieces approximately an inch wide on one side and 1 1/2 inches on the other so that you have trapezoid shapes. No need to be super precise, eyeballing is fine. Set aside the marzipan pieces until needed.
• Slice the sponge cake (here is my recipe for a simple, fluffy sponge, which also happens to be gluten free: http://food52.com/recipes/27584-gluten-free-sponge-cake) into discs about 1cm thick (a little over 1/3 inch). You want 2-3 good discs from the sponge. One disc will be the base (later, it will become the top) of the cake. With another, cut strips then trapezoids the same way you did with the pistachio marzipan. With the final disc, set aside for the top (later to become the bottom) of the cake. Some also use simply the sponge leftovers for this part, breaking them into crumbs to sprinkle over the cake in a layer. If your sponge is not the same diameter as the pie tin, you can also slice the sponge into fingers and arrange them (much like you would tiramisu) in a layer across the bottom.
• For the ricotta filling, start with a fairly stiff ricotta that can stand on its own if you were to tip it out of its container. If your ricotta is quite soft, spoon it into a colander lined with a damp tea towel or a few layers of muslin or cheesecloth set over a bowl. Leave it overnight for the excess liquid to drip out. Combine firm ricotta and caster sugar together until smooth and creamy. Add the dark chocolate, roughly chopped into fine pieces. Set aside.
• To assemble the cassata, use a pie dish that measures about 10 inches (25cm diameter) along the bottom. Place a disc of sponge cake on the bottom. Assemble the marzipan and sponge trapezoids along the sides of the tin, alternating to achieve a striped look. Don't worry too much about any little gaps.
• Fill the sponge with the ricotta mixture, using a spatula to cover all the way to the sides and smoothing the top. Place a sponge disc (or a sponge crumb layer) on the top and cover with plastic cling wrap. Place a small flat plate that fits just inside the width of the pie tin on top and weigh the cassata down with a couple of jars of jam in order to keep the cassata pressed. Let rest in the fridge for at least 2 to 3 hours, or even better, overnight.
• Remove the plastic wrap and place a flat serving plate over the top of the cassata, then carefully upturn the plate and remove the pie tin (it will come out very easily). Prepare a sugar glaze by combining the powdered sugar and water in a small saucepan and heating to a simmer. It should be thick but still runny -- add water as needed, a tablespoon at a time, until you get the right consistency.
• It helps to have 4 hands for this next part. Tip the hot sugar glaze out onto the cassata and very quickly smooth over to cover the entire cassata, top and sides (it cools quickly and as it cools it hardens so it is easier to do this bit by bit).
• Decorate with artisan candied fruit, cut into slices or pieces or left whole. Serve sliced into wedges.

CASSATA ALLA SICILIANA (SICILIAN CREAM TART)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• To Make Pan di Spagna (Sponge Cake): Have the following ingredients at room temperature for at least one hour before baking; 6 eggs, lemon juice, orange zest, and sherry.
• Separate 6 eggs and set the egg whites aside. Beat egg yolks until thick and lemon colored. Beat in sugar, lemon juice, orange zest, and sherry or 1 teaspoon almond extract. Beat until foamy.
• Sift flour 3 times and fold into eggs yolks gently but thoroughly. Beat egg whites until foamy, add salt, and beat until stiff but not dry. Fold into yolks. Pour batter into one ungreased 9 inch spring form pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 to 60 minutes. Test by pressing lightly with finger tip, if cake springs back at once it is done. Leave cake in pan to cool, and invert on a wire rack.
• Once cake is completely cool slice into 3 layers and sprinkle layers with rum.
• To Make Filling: Crush ricotta very finely with hands or a potato masher, add 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar and beat for about 3 minutes until creamy. Stir in 6 tablespoons rum, grated sweet chocolate, chopped candied cherries, cinnamon and toasted almonds.
• Spread ricotta filling over sponge cake layers, using half-inch of filling on each layer. Leave the top and sides of cake plain.
• To Make Frosting: Cream butter with 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar. Beat the 2 egg whites until stiff and gradually beat into the egg whites the remaining 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar. Fold egg whites into the butter mixture and add fold in 1 teaspoon almond extract.
• Cover sides and top cake evenly with frosting. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve. Serves 10.

SICILIAN CASSATA: RICOTTA CAKE

Steps:

• Place the ricotta into a fine mesh sieve and nestle this over a bowl, place into the refrigerator overnight to allow the excess moisture to drain out before proceeding with the cassata recipe.
• Place the ricotta into the bowl of a mixer and beat with the paddle attachment until the curds smooth out. Mix the drained and beaten ricotta with 1 cup powdered sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, chocolate chips and half the candied fruit. Set aside.
• Lightly oil a 10-inch springform pan with canola oil. Slice the sponge cake very thinly so that the springform may be lined with it in an even layer. Line the sides and bottom of the pan with the sponge cake. Pour the ricotta filling into the cake-lined pan. Place a final layer of cake over the ricotta filling; this now creates the bottom to the cassata. Before serving, the cassata will be inverted onto this cake bottom. Refrigerate the cassata overnight to firm the filling.
• Invert the springform pan on a wide platter. Open the hinge and remove the springform sides and bottom.
• The cassata may now be finished by either covering with a heavy coating of the remaining powdered sugar or may be coated with a thin layer of green marzipan. Either way, the remaining candied fruits should be used to decorate the finished cassata. Slice thinly and serve.

CASSATA CAKE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, powdered sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla with an electric mixer or by hand until you have as smooth and homogenous a mixture as possible-the ricotta will still cause it to have a few lumps.
• Once the ricotta mixture is well incorporated, hand stir in the chocolate chips and the lemon zest.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate it at least for as long as it takes you to bake and cool the cake. The filling could be made a day in advance if desired.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Once your cakes of choice are completely cool, either use a long serrated knife or sturdy thread to slice them horizontally into 2 layers. Reserve the 4 layers.
• In a small bowl, mix the rum with the water.
• Use a pastry brush to brush the outside part of the cake layers with the liquor mixture. Give each layer a minute or two to absorb the alcohol before assembling the cake.
• Place a single layer of cake in the bottom of a 9-inch cheesecake springform pan. Spread 1/3 of the chilled filling mixture on top. Repeat with a second layer of cake and another 1/3 of the mixture and spread the final 1/3 of the mixture on top of the third layer of cake.
• Cover the assembled cake with the fourth layer of cake, brown part up.
• Wrap the unfrosted cake in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 4 hours.
• Once you're ready to assemble, whip the cream with powdered sugar and rum. Beat until you have firm peaks. If not using right away, store the whipped cream in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Unwrap the cake and carefully move it to a serving plate. Frost the cake top and then the sides with the whipped cream mixture.
• Alternate the strawberries with the cherries on the outer edge of the cake. Place the chocolate shavings in the center. If not slicing right away, place the cake back in the fridge.
• Serve and enjoy

CASSATA SICILIANA

Steps:

• The day before, preheat the oven to 160C/Gas 3/fan oven 140C. Brush a 25cm/10in springform cake tin with the melted butter and then dust with flour.
• Make the sponge. Using an electric mixer fitted with balloon whisks, beat the eggs with the sugar until pale and airy. The mixture should be thick enough to leave a ribbon trail on the surface when the whisks are lifted - it takes about 8-10 minutes to get to this stage. Gently fold in the flour and lemon zest using the whisks or a spoon, trying not to deflate the beaten eggs and sugar.
• Working quickly, transfer to the prepared cake tin and bake for about 30 minutes until firm to the touch (the cake should not have risen). Stand the tin on a wire rack and leave to cool, then remove the cake from the tin.
• Make the ricotta cream. Finely chop the crystallised fruits and frozen chocolate. Mix the ricotta with the sugar and gently incorporate the fruit and chocolate. Place in the fridge until you are ready to assemble the cake.
• Make the icing just before assembling the cake. Mix the icing sugar with the lemon juice and 1 tablespoon milk, then add a drop of green food colouring to give the icing a subtle green tinge, and beat vigorously. You should have a spreadable paste with a thick, non-liquid consistency - you may need a little extra milk.
• Assemble the cake. Melt the jam with 1 tablespoon liqueur and 1 tablespoon water. Slice the sponge in half horizontally. Place the less perfect half on a flat serving plate and spread with half the jam mixture. Spread all the ricotta mixture on top. Spread the remaining jam mixture on the remaining sponge, then turn it over and put it jam side down on the ricotta cream. Spread the icing evenly across the top and smooth over with a palette knife, then place in the fridge for at least 1 hour (or for up to two days).
• On the day, a few hours before serving decorate the top of the cake with crystallised fruits, peel and angelica as the fancy takes you.

SICILIAN CASSATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325F.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat egg yolks; adding sugar gradually.
• Add butter.
• Sift dry ingredients and add alternately with milk; mix.
• Add vanilla and mix.
• Fold in beaten egg whites.
• Pour batter into greased and floured 10X16-inch jelly roll pan.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
• DO NOT over bake as it will not roll.
• Turn out onto a clean dish towel sprinkled thickly with powdered sugar.
• Trim off all edges with a knife.
• Roll the cake in a towel and let stand a few minutes.
• While you let the cake, prepare the filling.
• Put ricotta cheese through a sieve to remove all lumps.
• Add cream, sugar, cinnamon and liqueur and beat until smooth.
• Fold in candied fruit, nuts and chocolate chips.
• Unroll the towel and spread with filling.
• Reroll and refrigerate for 4 hours to"ripen".
• Slice when ready to serve, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

SICILIAN CASSATA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the crème de cacao and cointreau and set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat the ricotta cheese and sugar until smooth. Reserve 1/2 cup or more for frosting. In the large bowl, add in the vanilla and cinnamon and blend well. Fold in the nuts and chocolate chips.
• Place slices of cake in a serving dish (approximately 8 x 8) to cover the bottom. Sprinkle with the liquor and smooth on some ricotta mixture.
• Continue to layer until the dish is full.
• Top with the reserved frosting and you can garnish with some additional toasted almonds.
• Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least overnight.

TRADITIONAL CASSATA SICILIANA

Steps:

• Take a small saucepan and place the water and sugar inside. Stir over low heat until the sugar begins to spin.
• Add the almond flour and the dye to the two main ingredients. Mix well, until you reach a certain homogeneity, then pour the result on a marble surface previously cleaned and moistened with plain water.
• Let cool and then work with your hands until you get a soft and smooth dough.
• The last step involves flattening the royal pasta with a rolling pin to a thickness of about 8 mm.
• This sheet of pasta reale should be done in pieces: many small rectangles as long as the edge of the mold.
• Drain the ricotta to remove most of the whey. If necessary, help yourself with something heavy to put on top and especially do this the night before, so you can leave the ricotta to drain overnight and find it thicker in the morning.
• When the ricotta is quite dry, add the sugar and vanilla bean seeds. Mix well and let it rest for about an hour in the fridge
• After the hour has passed, take the sieve and use it to process the ricotta cream. Finally complete by adding the zuccata and chocolate.
• Take the sponge cake and divide it into 3 disks. One will go on the bottom of the pan, which should be round with flared edges.
• At this point dissolve the sugar in the water, flavour the mixture with rum and wet the sponge cake with this syrup. Be careful not to "drown" the sponge cake. Take the second disk and cut it into rectangles of the same size as those prepared with the royal pastry.
• Place them on the edge of the pan, one on each side. The rectangles, which will form the edges of the cassata, must be one of sponge cake and one of Pasta Reale, alternating. In this way you will begin to get a chromatic variation.
• Now it's time to pour the ricotta cream into the mould. Do not crush it too much and cover it with the remaining circle of sponge cake. The cassata has taken shape. Let it rest for about an hour.
• Turn it upside down on a round cake mitt and devote yourself to the icing. Weigh 150 grams of icing sugar and melt them over low heat in a small ladle of water until the sugar becomes stringy and transparent. The glaze is ready to go!
• Pour it still hot over the cassata and spread the edges well, then pour the still-hot glaze over the cassata and pay special attention to the edges. Help yourself with a spatula so as not to miss any piece.
• Let cool and then decorate with candied fruit, following your creativity.

CASSATA AL FORNO | OVEN BAKED CASSATA

Steps:

• The day before, add the ricotta with the sugar, simply stirring with a fork and keep it in the fridge in an airtight container.
• After having let the ricotta rest in the fridge, possibly overnight, start preparing the shortcrust pastry. Add flour, sugar, lemon peel (and a little yeast if you use it) in a bowl. Add the softened butter and a pinch of salt. Make a "fountain" with the flour (give it the shape of a volcano!) and in the centre of the volcano open the eggs. Start to beat the eggs with a fork and then continue to knead quickly with your hands. Compact everything into a ball of dough, wrap it in cling film and put it in the fridge for about an hour.
• Butter a rounded cake pan on the bottom and on the side. You want to put at the bottom also some oven paper cut to size (it is important to flip the cassata perfectly and avoid any stickiness!)
• Flatten two-thirds of the pastry to cover the cake pan. Cover it going up to the edges.
• Place half of the crumbled biscuits on the bottom (they will absorb any further ricotta moisture!) - In alternative, you can use a layer of sponge cake.
• Add the chocolate drops to the ricotta and pour it on the base. Level it well with the help of a dampened spoon. Place the other half of crumbled biscuits (or the sponge cake). At this point, helping with the tip of a knife, lower the edges of the pastry to the level of the filling and brush this edge with plenty of beaten egg white. Roll out the remaining pastry and cover everything smoothing well and cutting the excess by adhering well to the edge!
• Make some small holes on the surface with the tip of a knife (small chops) and bake at 180°C degrees for about an hour, checking that the oven cassata takes on a beautiful golden color.
• Remove from the oven and let it cool down!
• When the cassata is well cooled (I recommend that you wait and let it rest, otherwise you risk breaking it!) flip it over and dust with powdered sugar. Enjoy your baked cassata!

ZUCCOTTO GELATO DI CASSATA SICILIANA

Steps:

• Il gelato di cassata siciliana è più semplice da preparare rispetto ad altri semifreddi, perché non avete bisogno di preparare crema pasticcera, in quanto è la ricotta a sostenere la struttura del gelato. Dovete però montare la panna a neve non troppo ferma con un pizzico di sale e passare la ricotta al setaccio (una o due volte). Poi dovete lavorare la ricotta con una spatola o con una frusta a mano fino a renderla cremosa e omogenea. Aggiungete la panna, amalgamandola alla crema di ricotta con una spatola.
• Per preparare la MERINGA ALL'ITALIANA è indispensabile l'uso di un termometro da cucina. Versate in un pentolino acqua e zucchero e portare a ebollizione. Misurare la temperatura con il termometro, che dovrà arrivare a 121 gradi. Mentre lo sciroppo di zucchero cuoce, montate leggermente gli albumi in una ciotola con un pizzico di sale. Devono diventare semplicemente schiumosi. Quando lo sciroppo di zucchero sarà arrivato a 121 gradi, versatelo a filo sugli albumi e montate con le fruste elettriche o in planetaria finché il composto non sarà gonfio, spumoso e sodo. Pesate la quantità di meringa indicata nella ricetta (330 grammi) e aggiungetela al composto di ricotta e panna. Amalgamate tutto con delicatezza e, una volta ottenuto un composto omogeneo, conservatelo in frigorifero.
• Tagliate la frutta candita, il cioccolato fondente e i pistacchi a pezzi non troppo piccoli e aggiungeteli al composto di ricotta e meringa. Conservare in frigorifero fino al momento di utilizzarlo.
• PER IL PAN DI SPAGNA, vi suggerisco di stendere parte del composto in una tortiera di diametro simile o uguale a quella dello stampo da zuccotto, e cuocere il resto in uno o due stampi per muffin, in modo da avere uno o due pezzi di pan di Spagna da potere sistemare al cuore dello zuccotto di cassata siciliana.
• Preriscaldare il forno statico a 180 gradi. In una ciotola molto capiente lavorare le uova con lo zucchero e un pizzico di sale fino ad ottenere un composto bianco e spumoso, triplicato di volume. Aggiungere la farina setacciata sempre mescolando delicatamente dall'alto verso il basso. Versare nella teglia e negli stampini unti di burro e infarinati. Infornare a 180 gradi per 10-12 minuti o finché il pan di Spagna non sarà gonio e dorato. Sfornare e lasciare raffreddare su una gratella.
• PER LA BAGNA, fare bollire acqua e zucchero fino a ridurre il liquido di un terzo. Una volta che il liquido si sarà ridotto, aggiungere l'Alchermes e lasciare raffreddare completamente.
• COMPOSIZIONE DEL DOLCE: rivestire lo stampo da zuccotto con pellicola per alimenti, versarvi parte del gelato di cassata. Bagnare abbondantemente il pezzo di pan di Spagna che dovete mettere al centro dello zuccotto e sistemarlo con delicatezza, aggiungendo poi il resto del gelato. Livellare la superficie dello zuccotto gelato di cassata e coprire con il disco di pan di Spagna. Bagnare il disco abbondantemente con la bagna all'Alchermes, coprire con pellicola per alimenti e lasciare in congelatore per almeno 24 ore.
• Prima di provare a sformare il dolce, lasciatelo per 15 minuti in frigorifero e per 5 minuti a temperatura ambiente, in modo che la pellicola si stacchi agevolmente dallo stampo. Capovolgete lo zuccotto e rimuovere la pellicola. Decorate con pistacchi, cioccolato o canditi, come preferite. Buon appetito!