How to make the Shell-shaped Flaky Ricotta Pastries:
How to make the sfogliatella riccia: Bring the water to a boil, add a pinch of salt and pour in the semolina,
stirring so as not to form lumps. Cook, stirring for about 8 min.,
stirring constantly. Let cool. Make a fontana with the flour. Put
half of the butter, a pinch of salt and as much water as necessary to
knead the dough to a smooth and elastic consistency. Wrap the dough in a
towel and let rest for an hour.
Sift the ricotta; mix with the semolina, 6 tbs. sugar,
a pinch of cinnamon and the candied peel. Roll out the pastry with a
rolling pin to obtain a 25x18-in. rectangle, 1/16-in. thick. Cut the
pastry vertically into 4 strips and place one on top of the other,
brushing each one with melted butter. Let rest for half an hour, and then
roll up the stack of dough.
Slice the roll into 10 equal pieces with a very sharp,
floured knife. Place the pieces on the pastry board and roll them gently
with the rolling pin, first vertically, in an upward direction, and then
in a downwards direction, to give them an oval shape.
Turn the ovals over, place a bit of ricotta filling in
the middle of each one, brush the edges with egg yolk, then fold the dough
over and press to seal. Brush the sfogliatelle with melted strutto and place on a paper greased with butter. Bake in a pre-heated
oven at 425°F for 20 min. Remove from the oven. Brush with melted butter
again, lower the temperature to 350°F and bake for another 20 min. Let
cool, sprinkle
the sfogliatella riccia with confectioner's sugar and serve.
Recipe courtesy of The Italian Trade Commission.
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