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Ricette di Sicilia

Cibo, cultura e tradizioni siciliane
Sicilian cassatelle from Mirabella Imbaccari filled with ricotta and sweet chickpea cream

Sicilian Cassatelle from Mirabella Imbaccari: a Delightful Two-Cream Pastry

These charming Sicilian pastries from Mirabella Imbaccari are filled with ricotta and sweet chickpea cream, lightly scented with cinnamon, citrus and dark chocolate - a crisp, golden treat with a soft and fragrant heart.

Author: Vito Costa • Published on: March 23, 2022
Categories: Desserts
Tags: cocoa cinnamon Catania chickpeas chocolate dark chocolate Enna flour plain flour vegetable oil ricotta lard eggs wine white wine candied pumpkin sugar
⏱️
Prep Time
40 minutes
🔥
Cook Time
20 minutes
👥
Serve
Serves 10
📊
Difficulty
Medium
💰 Medium
🗓️ Winter
⭐ 4.9/5

🛒 Ingredients

▸ For the pastry

  • ✓ 300 g plain flour
  • ✓ 50 g lard
  • ✓ 30 g caster sugar
  • ✓ 2 egg yolks
  • ✓ 70 ml dry white wine

▸ For the ricotta cream

  • ✓ 300 g ricotta
  • ✓ 200 g caster sugar
  • ✓ 30 g dark chocolate chips
  • ✓ 30 g candied pumpkin (zuccata)
  • ✓ 2 tablespoons orange essence

▸ For the chickpea cream

  • ✓ 250 g chickpea purée
  • ✓ 100 g icing sugar
  • ✓ 30 g candied pumpkin (zuccata)
  • ✓ 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ✓ 30 g dark chocolate chips
  • ✓ 30 g cornflour
  • ✓ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

▸ For frying and finishing

  • ✓ Sunflower oil
  • ✓ Icing sugar
  • ✓ Ground cinnamon

📊 Nutritional Information

Calories
460 kcal
Protein
9 g
Fat
25 g
Carbohydrates
50 g
Fiber
3 g
Sugars
28 g
Sodium
160 mg

If you’ve ever longed to bring home a little of Sicily’s winter warmth, these cassatelle from Mirabella Imbaccari are a wonderful place to start. They come from a small town tucked between Catania and Enna, where farmhouse baking and pastry-shop traditions blend into something utterly irresistible.

Think of them as tiny golden parcels: crisp once fried, yet hiding a soft, fragrant duo of fillings. One is a silky ricotta cream; the other, a sweetened chickpea mixture – a surprisingly delicate combination that speaks of Sicilian creativity at its best. Both are lifted by hints of cinnamon, citrus and dark chocolate, giving each bite a comforting richness.

Served warm or at room temperature, cassatelle are the sort of treat that make winter afternoons feel indulgent and festive in the best possible way.

👨‍🍳 Preparation

  1. 1

    Drain the ricotta for a few hours in the fridge, then press it through a sieve and mix with the sugar, chocolate chips, candied pumpkin and orange essence. Refrigerate.

  2. 2

    For the chickpea cream, combine the chickpea purée with icing sugar, cocoa, candied pumpkin, chocolate chips, cornflour and cinnamon until thick and smooth.

  3. 3

    Prepare the pastry by rubbing the flour and lard together, then add the sugar, egg yolks and white wine. Knead into a smooth dough, wrap and chill for 1 hour.

  4. 4

    Roll the pastry thinly and cut out discs using a cutter or an upturned glass.

  5. 5

    Place a small spoonful of chickpea cream and another of ricotta cream in the centre of each disc. Fold into half-moons and seal the edges firmly with a fork.

  6. 6

    Trim the edges with a fluted pastry wheel and fry the cassatelle in hot oil until golden.

  7. 7

    Drain on kitchen paper and dust with icing sugar and a little cinnamon.

  8. 8

    Serve the cassatelle warm or at room temperature.

💡 Tips and Variations

For a stronger citrus note, add a splash of orange liqueur to the ricotta cream.
If you prefer a lighter version, bake the cassatelle at 180°C for about 20 minutes instead of frying.

📦 Storage

  • • Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  • • Warm gently in the oven before serving if desired.
  • • Dust again with icing sugar just before bringing them to the table.

🍷 Pairing

These pastries pair beautifully with a glass of dry Amber Marsala, whose warm, mellow character enhances both the creamy fillings and the crisp fried shell.

You’ve just discovered one of Sicily’s most charming traditional treats. Cassatelle from Mirabella Imbaccari are a joyful mix of texture, fragrance and heartfelt local tradition. Share them with friends or family - though stopping at just one is nearly impossible.

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