There is an ancient legend surrounding the creation of the pastiera. Some believe that the Partenope siren would come out of the waters of the Gulf of Naples every spring, delighting people with its beautiful songs. Apparently during the year, the people of Naples fell so much in love with his songs that they decided to offer them the most precious products of their land. Seven of the most beautiful girls in the area gave the beautiful mermaid: flour, ricotta, eggs, wheat, orange blossom water and spices, including cinnamon and sugar. Partenope, thrilled by her gifts, decided to return to her home under the sea and offer her gifts to the gods. To honor its beauty, the gods mixed the ingredients, creating a delicious cake like the siren's voice: the Neapolitan pastiera.
The legend
FOR PASTA: 5 oz butter; 4 oz confectioners sugar; 3 egg yolks; ½ lb all-purpose flour;
INGREDIENTS
FOR FILLING: 1 lb ricotta cheese; ½ lb granulated sugar; ½ lb cooked wheat; 3 oz milk; 3 eggs; lemon zest, grated; 1 oz orange flower water; vanilla to taste; cinnamon to taste; 3 oz mixed candied fruit; 1 oz butter; 1 oz confectioners’ sugar; salt.
PREPARATION:
STEP 1: Put the flour and butter into a food mixer, mix until grainy.
STEP 2: Then blend in the yolks, the powdered sugar, the vanilla and mix further (being careful not to over-mix).
STEP 3: When the dough is ready, wrap it in cling-film and leave in the fridge for 2 hours.
STEP 4: Roll the dough to a thickness of 0.2 inch, use it to line a cake pan and prick the pastry all over with a fork.
STEP 5: Put the ricotta into a bowl with the sugar and mix together.
STEP 6: Finish by adding all the ingredients for the filling, mixing together well, and taking care not to let it collapse.
STEP 7: When the filling is finished lay it in the lined cake pan.
STEP 8: Make strips of pastry and lay them crisscross across the top of the cake like a fruit flan. Bake at 360°F for about 1hour and 30 minutes.
Written by Denise De Falco