Ricette di Sicilia
Cibo, cultura e tradizioni siciliane
Ciaurrina – The Traditional Honey Sweet of Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto
Discover the ancient Sicilian honey confection known as ciaurrina (or giaurrina), a festive treat from Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto prepared for the feast of Saint Sebastian.
🛒 Ingredients
- ✓ 1 kg honey
- ✓ Extra-virgin olive oil, as needed
📊 Nutritional Information
If you’re curious about one of Sicily’s oldest and most intriguing confections, let me introduce you to the ciaurrina — also known locally as the giaurrina. This traditional sweet from Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto is made almost entirely from honey and crafted each year for the feast of Saint Sebastian.
Its preparation is a spectacle of its own: the honey is boiled, stretched, folded and pulled until it transforms from a deep golden syrup into a pale, glossy, silky mass. What begins as a simple ingredient becomes, through heat and craftsmanship, a delicate festive sweet with a fragrant aroma and irresistible shine.
With just a little patience and a touch of Sicilian tradition, you can recreate this centuries-old treat at home and bring a bit of Barcellona’s winter celebration into your kitchen.
👨🍳 Preparation
- 1
Pour the honey into a copper pot and bring it to the boil, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon.
- 2
Continue cooking until the honey “threads”, indicating it has reached the right consistency for pulling.
- 3
Remove from the heat and pour the hot honey onto a marble surface lightly greased with extra-virgin olive oil.
- 4
Allow it to cool slightly, then, with oiled hands, begin working and stretching it as though it were an elastic dough.
- 5
Hook the mixture onto a wooden peg and keep stretching and folding it repeatedly until the colour becomes pale and the texture elastic.
- 6
Once the mass is firm and glossy, shape it into sticks or small rings and let them cool completely.
- 7
Arrange the finished sweets on a tray and serve them during festivities or alongside a glass of dessert wine.
💡 Tips and Variations
You can scent the honey with a little grated lemon zest or a teaspoon of cinnamon for a fragrant twist. For a decorative effect, twist two thin strands of ciaurrina together before they set.
📦 Storage
- • Keep the sweets in an airtight metal or glass container.
- • Store in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks.
- • Avoid humidity, which can cause the honey to soften.
- • Do not refrigerate.
🍷 Pairing
Enjoy ciaurrina with a glass of Malvasia delle Lipari — its aromatic sweetness pairs beautifully with this traditional honey confection.
You’ve just revived one of the sweetest traditions of Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto. Simple yet full of history, ciaurrina fills the home with warmth and fragrance. Serve it during winter festivities and savour its authentic Sicilian charm, just as local confectioners have done for generations.
Rate this recipe
Click or tap the stars to rate
Potrebbero interessarti anche:
-
Nzuḍḍi: Sicilian Almond Biscuits with Old-World Charm DessertsBeautifully spiced Sicilian almond biscuits from Messina - rustic, fragrant, and perfect with a glass of Marsala.
-
Buccellati - Sicilian Christmas Biscuits Filled with Figs and Nuts Desserts Christmas RecipesDiscover buccellati, traditional Sicilian Christmas pastries filled with figs, nuts and honey - a festive treat to bake and enjoy with loved ones.
-
Caltagirone Christmas Honey Rings (Cuḍḍureḍḍi) DessertsFragrant Sicilian Christmas pastries filled with a warm blend of almonds, honey and spice - crisp outside, soft within, and beautifully festive.
-
Ericini Almond Desires - Elegant Convent Sweets from the Heart of Erice DessertsDiscover Ericini Almond Desires, exquisite almond pastries from the convent tradition of Erice - perfect with a glass of Sicilian dessert wine.
-
Isnello Horn Biscuits - A Festive Taste of the Madonie Mountains DessertsDiscover Isnello horn biscuits, traditional Sicilian Christmas pastries filled with figs and almonds - a true flavour of the Madonie.