Gelo di melone (Sicilian Watermelon Pudding)

Frankdessert/dolci, Sicilia, summer31 Comments

Watermelon Pudding (Gelo di melone)

Sicilian Watermelon Pudding, or gelo di melone, is made from watermelon juice, perfumed with cinnamon and jasmine blossoms, thickened and mixed with bits of chocolate—cut into little bits so they resemble watermelon seeds—and chilled until set. Served in dessert bowls or unmolded on to a plate, the pudding is then topped with ground … Read More

Biancomangiare (Blancmange)

Frankdessert/dolci, Sicilia18 Comments

Biancomangiare (Blancmange)

A dish dating back to the Middle Ages, biancomangiare, meaning ‘white dish’, is a simple cooked dessert, essentially milk infused with spices and thickened with starch to form a kind of pudding not unlike its far better known cousin panna cotta. It is usually topped with cinnamon or ground nuts. It can be served … Read More

Gattò di patate (Neapolitan Potato “Cake”)

Naples and Campania, one dish meals/piatti unici, Sicilia, snack, starters/antipasti63 Comments

Gattò di patate (Neapolitan Potato Cake)

Another example of the French Bourbon legacy in Neapolitan cooking, this gattò—from the French gateau—is a savory potato ‘cake’ made of mashed potatoes enriched with eggs, butter and grated cheese, a mixture you may remember from our recipe for crocchè di patate (Potato Croquettes). The filling for this cake is … Read More