These pastries are a specialty of Naples, Italy. The key to making them is using the freshest ricotta you can find. Do not substitute packaged ricotta, which can't compare with artisanal varieties in terms of flavor or consistency.
Yield makes about 20
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine all-purpose flour with 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, the olive oil, and 3/4 cup water; stir together until a dough forms (it will be slightly dry). If the dough is too dry to absorb all of the flour, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface, and knead until soft and elastic, about 5 minutes. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and shortening on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Transfer mixture to a small bowl, and set aside. In a food processor, blend ricotta cheese until smooth and creamy, about 30 seconds; set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine 1 cup water with the granulated sugar, and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add semolina flour, and stir until there are no visible lumps and mixture is slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Whisk in ricotta cheese, and cook over medium heat until mixture is smooth and thickened, 1 minute. Remove from heat, and whisk in whole eggs and yolks, one at a time. Return pan to heat and continue to cook until mixture is slightly thickened, about 1 minute more. Stir in the cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, orange zest, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Transfer to a medium bowl. Press a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the custard to prevent a skin from forming, and refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour.
- Remove dough from the refrigerator, and cut into four equal pieces. Lightly dust each one with flour. Using a rolling pin, roll out each piece to a thickness that will easily fit through the widest setting on a manual pasta machine (it should be about 5 1/2 inches). Pass each piece of dough, one after the other, through every other setting, ending with the thinnest setting.
- Place one of the strips of dough on a lightly floured work surface, and trim both the rounded ends. Using an offset spatula, evenly spread one quarter of reserved butter mixture on the dough.With a short side facing you, begin rolling the dough into a tight log; gently stretch the ends as you roll to make them thinner (the log should be about 8 inches long). Repeat with remaining three pieces of dough. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Stack two baking sheets, and line the top one with parchment paper; set aside. Transfer chilled custard to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tip (such as an Ateco #806). Slice each log of dough crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces (dip your knife in flour to prevent sticking).With your thumbs, slowly push out the center of each roll to form a clam-shell shape. Fill the opening with custard; pinch openings to seal. Transfer filled pastries to prepared baking sheet, about 1 inch apart.
- Bake, periodically basting pastries with the accumulated melted butter, until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Before serving, dust with confectioners' sugar.
- The dough is first passed through a pasta machine.
- Once the dough is thin enough, it is spread with a mixture of butter and shortening, and then rolled into a log.
- The log is cut into slices, the centers of which are slowly pushed out to form a clamshell shape and then filled with a ricotta mixture.
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