Prepare i Sicilian cannoli requires a lot of attention, especially in the frying phase. And Dora Maugeri – iconic chef from Rocca delle Tre Contrade in Santa Venerina, Catania – knows this well. Her proverbial cannoli are tiny in size but are rich in flavor and she confides to us: «The pasta is made crunchy by lard and vinegar and must be filled strictly with sheep’s ricotta.
Cannoli, a Sicilian excellence
Well known throughout the world, the Sicilian cannoli is a product of excellence included in thelist of Traditional Agri-food Products (PAT) held by the Ministry of Agricultural and Forestry Policies.
How is a Sicilian cannoli made?
The classic Sicilian cannoli is prepared with a crispy fried cylinder-shaped wafer, filled with sheep’s ricotta. There classic filling is that of sheep’s ricotta enriched with drops of chocolate or candied fruitbut today there are many filling options to choose from, such as custard, whipped cream, pistachio or chocolate cream.
How was the cannoli born?
The Sicilian cannoli certainly has it ancient origins, but there is no certainty regarding the moment of its invention. Its roots are thought to date back to Arab period of medieval Sicilywhen the Arabs introduced grain processing techniques and ingredients such as sugar and spices to the island: the word “cannolo” derives from the Arabic “qanawāt”, which means “small tube” or “cane”, which is exactly the shape of the much loved typical Sicilian dessert.
Tradition has it that cannoli originated during the Carnival celebrations, when fried and stuffed desserts were prepared to celebrate abundance before the fasting period of Lent.
Originally the filling of the Sicilian cannoli was probably already made of sheep’s ricotta, since flocks of sheep were abundant in Sicily.
Dora’s strong dishes
Also try the recipe between sea and mountains, the Marsala and orange sausages, the baked potatoes and vegetables, as well as the arancini with Dora’s ragù.
Tasty, comforting, it embodies the whole Mediterranean. There caponata Siciliana, sidesummer par excellence, was born in Sicily and today it is widespread and appreciated throughout Italy thanks to that unmistakable sweet and sour flavour. Cold, warm and room temperature, it really is irresistible and if it is served on a slice of toasted bread it can even represent an appetizer or a main course. Loved by vegetarians and omnivoresinitially it was also prepared with fish, while today the best known variant it is the one based on suns vegetable ingredients.
Sicilian caponata: the numerous versions
From caponata Siciliana they exist numerous versions but what is certain is that the eggplantthey cannot be missed and that all the ingredients they must be individually prepared to be united only at the end. In the alone Sicily at least they can be counted four variations of caponata: a Catania among the ingredients there are also: peppers red and yellow, e.g Agrigento in addition to peppers there are the olivesblack but not the green ones, a Messina woe betide using concentrate for the benefit of tomatoesfresh it’s at Palermo there recipe that is performed is yet another.
Sicilian caponata: the Palermo recipe
A mix of fried vegetables (otherwise it’s not caponata!) and then pan-fried with a sauce based on sugarand vinegar: this is the secret to obtaining the original Palermo Sicilian caponata from the typical one sweet and sour taste.
Start preparing the Sicilian caponata by draining the aubergines. Wash them well with running water, cut off the end with the stalk, cut them into slices a couple of centimeters thick and collect them in a bowl. Sprinkle with coarse salt and place a weight on top. After about an hour, rinse them well with fresh water and let them drain on sheets of absorbent paper. When they are well drained, cut them into cubes.
Pour into a large pan oil and when it is hot, fry the aubergines until golden brown. Remove them with a slotted spoon and let them drain on absorbent paper for fried foods.
Clean the celery, wash it with cold water and cut it into pieces more or less the size of the aubergines. Blanch it for a few minutes in boiling salted water and drain it.
Pour the sugar and vinegar into a bowl and mix until the sugar is completely dissolved. Keep aside.
Peel the onion and chop it finely. In a saucepan, fry the chopped onion in the oil for a couple of minutes, taking care not to let it burn. Also add the capers and blanched pieces of celery and leave to flavor for a few minutes, stirring often.
Add the olives and tomato sauce to the saucepan. Mix, add salt and cook for five minutes. Finally add the aubergines and the sweet and sour sauce. Mix with a wooden spoon until the ingredients are well blended. Season with salt, turn off the heat and flavor with the basil.
Let the caponata rest and serve it at room temperature so the flavor of the vinegar will be less intrusive.
Which aubergines are used to make caponata?
The types of aubergines that would be best to choose for making Sicilian caponata are the “violet” type, like – needless to say – the long Palermo violet. This type of aubergines are characterized by elongated shape and from very firm pulp which holds up well to cooking while remaining intact and compact.
In addition to the usual and sensational timbale with aubergines or ragù, why not also try a timbale of baked anelletti with pistachios? It is the satisfying variant of the cult Sicilian dish that the Palermo native offered us Giusi Battaglia – for everyone now Giusina in the kitchen from the name of her TV show on the Food Network – when we asked her for a suggestion a special idea for Sunday. We were looking for a simple dish to make, but which would stand out, a recipe so as not to tire us out too much, but to hear ourselves say at the end: «But how good! . So the TV presenter offered us her special way of rediscovering a classic.
Giusina in Cucina’s baked anelletti with pistachios
«I have a great passion for pasta flans, because they are sumptuous, almost regal says Giusi Battaglia. «I love seeing them at the center of the table as great protagonists. They bring joy and are perfect for convivial occasions such as Sunday: they can be prepared first, to be able to prepare later. dedicate yourself completely to friends and family, without worrying about the stove” continues Giusina. «I thought of a timbale with pistachios to tell the story of Sicily by enhancing one of our most special products. Bronte and Raffadali pistachios have a unique flavor and aromaand in this recipe they give a very particular and delicate touch.”
Because we love home cooking, the real one
The simple, but tasty and spectacular dishes, moreover, have always distinguished Giusina’s cuisine: those who watch her on Food Newtork and those who follow her on It’s always midday on Rai1 given that he is now a regular guest of the landlady Antonella Clerici. Those who follow her on social media (@giusinaincucina) know this too, where she talks about her daily life with the same spontaneity: busy days made up of family commitments, office work (which remains her first job, despite the TV) as well as cooking. «I’m not a professional food influencer who can dedicate the whole day to recipes, but I know that those who follow me love learning about new dishes, so I propose them in my own way: I show what I prepare to eat at home, for lunch and dinner, filming it with my cell phone. All without retouching, filters or food styling: it’s all real life, like that of the people who follow me with affection that I reciprocate” says Giusina.
«I don’t have a great technique, I didn’t study to cook, but I was lucky enough to meet many chefs who taught me many things that I now put into practice he says. An example? «Once I was with Pino Cuttaia (two Michelin stars at La Madia, Licata, ed.) and I was chopping parsley, throwing away the stems as I always do. And he explained to me that instead parsley stems should never be thrown away, because they are the richest in nutrients, the most fragrant, and unlike the leaves they can also be cooked because they do not give off a bitter taste. A small thing, of course, but one of the many that I now carry in my baggage” concludes Giusi Battaglia, who we will soon see on TV in a summer and on the road version of his program Sicily Edition and in See you at the bar, with Paolo Briguglia, discovering new specialties, always in Sicily. Meanwhile, for a nice taste, here is the recipe for his anelletti.
The recipe for baked anelletti with pistachios by Giusina in the kitchen
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