Ćetenija is a Bosnian dessert with a special charm because the preparation is like a folkloristic ritual in which the protagonists are the women of the villages
One of the oldest Bosnian sweets is ćetenija, so simple for the ingredients that it requires as complex for the preparation, it contains in itself the popular folklore and a typical ritual of cold winter evenings. It is in this period, in fact, that the families, and the women in particular, they sit in a circle around a table and, modeling by hand with extraordinary teamwork, what is a mixture based on sugar, flour and waterthey spend their time pleasantly together, often listening to traditional music.
Recipe and preparation of the sweet cake
To cook ćetenija we start with the toasting the flour, which should be baked in the oven at a low temperature for about two hours, until it is golden. In the meantime we proceed to the preparation of the dough based on sugar, water and a little lemon. The ingredients are heated together until the mixture is caramelized, elastic and dark brown. At this point it is removed from the stove and, with oiled hands, comes shaped until it has the shape of a ring. It is at this point that, traditionally, the social component of the preparation of the dessert takes over. The caramelized circle is in fact placed on a wooden surface on which the flour has been previously distributed and the women who sit in a circle, usually five or six, begin to pull and shape, one at a time, the dough until it is thin. The work of ćetenija requires little effort and time on the part of women, but the participatory aspect makes it all enjoyable and enjoyable. The dessert is considered ready when these sweet filaments similar to cotton they are completed and laid one on top of the other, and then left to cool, outside or near a window. Needless to say that in the final stages the sugar threads are cut into small pieces and served to all those present, in small portions, for the umpteenth moment of conviviality and sharing.
The ćetenija ritual, yesterday and today
The process of preparation of ćetenija, as we have seen, has one strong social component. During the various steps, the guests sip Bosnian coffee and sing national traditional songs. Everything takes place in a cheerful atmosphere, between talk and laughter. In short, this dessert brings people together and helps to perpetuate a strong sense of identity in families. Once upon a time the ritual also represented a precious opportunity for the young people of the village to know each other and converse or to attract the beloved person to himself.
Nowadays ćetenija is prepared as much in homes as it is outdoors, in the street, often within neighborhood initiatives with lots of public performances.
Although ćetenija is still a beloved dessert in Bosnia, in the rest of the world it is almost unknown. This is because, despite its undeniable charm, the Bosnian authorities do not do much to promote the country's cultural heritage.
Photo: cetenija zenicablog
Photo: Bosnian sweet cetenjia; Medžlis islamske zajednice Srebrenik
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