Best Sicilian Potato And Egg Cake Recipes

SICILIAN CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl with an electric beater, beat the ricotta and sugar until combined well. Add the heavy cream, vanilla, and rum and continue to beat until thick and smooth. Stir in the pineapple. Line the bottom and sides of a buttered 9-inch springform pan with some of the ladyfingers, top with one third of the filling, and cover with half the remaining ladyfingers. Add half the remaining filling, cover with the rest of the ladyfingers, and top with the last of the filling. Sprinkle with walnuts, chocolate chips, and glaceed cherries. Cover the cake with plastic and chill overnight. Run a knife around the inside of the pan and release the sides. Transfer the cake to a serving dish.

SICILIAN BUCATINI WITH SARDINES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 1 1/4 cups cooking water, then drain. Reserve the pot.
• Meanwhile, put the raisins in a small bowl and add hot tap water to just cover; set aside. Mix 2 teaspoons olive oil with the breadcrumbs and 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds; toast in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Wipe out the pasta pot and heat the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and fennel bulb and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fennel is tender and golden, about 8 minutes. Add the pine nuts, turmeric and remaining 1 teaspoon fennel seeds and cook, stirring, until the oil is golden and the nuts and spices are toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the raisins and soaking water and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water; remove from the heat.
• Add the pasta, sardines and fennel fronds to the pot. Return to medium-high heat and cook, stirring, until coated, adding the remaining cooking water as needed to loosen. Season with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls, drizzle with olive oil and top with the toasted breadcrumbs.

POTATO CAKES AND EGGS

Steps:

• Put potatoes in salted water and boil until tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain and smash with the milk. Mix in the bread crumbs and 1 of the eggs and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Pack into 4 (3-inch) patties.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• In a nonstick pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over high heat until the oil shimmers. Sear the potato cakes until crispy and browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a sheet pan to keep warm in a low oven.
• Add the spinach to the pan, and cook, season with salt and pepper, and toss until just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. In the same pan, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and cook the onions, garlic and thyme until soft and slightly brown, 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and olives and cook until warmed. Transfer to a bowl and cover with foil to keep warm.
• Melt the butter in the same pan, and fry the eggs, sunny-side up or as desired, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. While the eggs fry, divide the potato cakes among 4 plates. Top with the wilted spinach. Top each cake with a fried egg, and spoon warm tomato sauce over and around the egg.