Sicilian Cassata Recipes

SICILIAN CASSATA

Steps:

• Start preparing the Sicilian cassata the day before serving. Make the sponge cake and bake it in a rectangular jelly roll pan measuring 10" x 14" (35 cm x 25 cm) 1 and let it cool (we prepare it a day ahead so it can be cut without crumbling too much). Drain the ricotta cheese well, using a sieve 2 , then mix it in a bowl with the vanilla-flavored powdered sugar 3 : cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge overnight.
• The next day, sieve the ricotta cheese twice 4 until a smooth, soft cream is obtained. Add the chocolate chips 5 (and, if you like it, the candied orange cut into small cubes) to the cream and place the filling obtained in the refrigerator in a bowl covered with plastic wrap. Prepare the green marzipan by kneading together the marzipan and the pistachio paste 6 (if you can't find it, use green food coloring), dusting the worktop with a little powdered sugar. If you want to prepare the marzipan yourself, put 1/2 cup (125 gr) of sugar and 3 1/2 T (50 ml) of water in a pan. Bring to a boil and as soon as the sugar starts to spin (soft-ball stage, 235-240° F) (112-115° C), remove the saucepan from the heat; add 1 1/4 cup (125 g) of peeled almond flour (which you can obtain by blending peeled almonds with a coffee grinder in short pulses so as not to overheat them and release their oil), the pistachio paste and 1 tbsp of vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and homogeneous, then pour the mixture out on a cold marble surface. As soon as the marzipan is cooled, knead it until smooth and compact (use powdered sugar in the same way as flour, if needed, to keep it from sticking).
• Roll out the marzipan into a sheet 5" (12 cm) wide and 1/4" (1/2 cm) thick 7 , then cut it in half lengthwise (you will obtain two 2.5" (6 cm) wide strips) and cut out pieces of marzipan in the shape of a trapezoid 8 . For the cassata you will need a round cake pan with flared edges about 2" (5 cm) deep and with a slightly raised bottom, typically from Palermo: the one used in this recipe has a 12" (30 cm) diameter in its widest part. Cut the pan di Spagna (sponge cake) into strips at least 2.5" (6 cm) thick from which you will also cut trapezoids (because the edges of the cake pan are flared) 9 .
• Dust the cake pan generously with powdered sugar 10 , then line the edges alternating the pan di Spagna (sponge cake) trapezoids with those of green marzipan 11 , pressing well against the sides and being careful not to leave spaces between one and the other. If the piece just laid down has the upper side wider than the lower one, the following one must be the opposite 12 . The trapezoids can be positioned either with the dark side facing outwards or inwards (see video).
• Once the entire perimeter of the cake pan has been completed, the bottom can be placed with the spongy part downwards 13 . Press the edges of the pan di Spagna (sponge cake) well to make it stick better to the shape of the cake pan 14 . Now, with a knife with a smooth, sharp blade, you can even out the pieces sticking out from the side edges of the cake pan 15 .
• If you want you can prepare the syrup for the pan di Spagna (sponge cake): dissolve 1/4 cup (50 g) of sugar in 2/3 cup (150 ml) of water, together with the rind of half a lemon (or orange) and half a shot of liqueur of your choice (maraschino, Cointreau, Alkermes, Strega, etc.) and let it cool. Now you can fill the base with the ricotta cheese cream and level with a spatula 17 . Crumble the leftover pan di Spagna (sponge cake) on the bottom of the cassata 18 , cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for at least two to three hours (better if overnight).
• When the cassata is nice and compacted and the flavors have blended, turn it upside down on a plate 19 and prepare the fondant icing. Place the powdered sugar in a small pot with a little water 20 , just enough to make a creamy, still white mixture. As soon as it comes to a boil, the fondant will be ready to be poured into the center of the cassata 21 and spread with a spatula.
• Do the same on the sides of the cassata: as you will notice, the fondant will dry almost instantly as soon as it is spread, with a glossy and transparent consistency 23 . Now you can move on to decorating the cassata: cut strips of zuccata (candied pumpkin) and other candied fruit into pieces. Place the slices of zuccata (candied pumpkin) on the cassata curving them as if to form the petals of a flower in the center of which you can put, for example, a candied mandarin orange cut in half (23-24).
• Have fun decorating the cassata with the candied fruit available, alternating different colors 25 . The final touch will be the decoration with the icing, which you can make by beating an egg white and slowly adding powdered sugar to obtain a very thick texture. With a piping bag fitted with a narrow tip, create decorations both on the fruit 26 and on the edges of the cassata 27 to make it even richer and more sumptuous. Now your magnificent Sicilian cassata is ready to be enjoyed!

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!

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.