Sfogliatelle

Ingredients

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 210°C conventional heat. Line a baking tray with parchment. In a bowl, mix the strong white flour, fine sea salt, honey, and water into a very firm dough. Knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic; the dough should feel tight rather than soft, which helps create distinct layers.

2. 2

   Shape the dough into a small rectangle and roll it through a pasta machine, or with a rolling pin, gradually thinning it to about 1-2 mm. If using a machine, work progressively through thinner settings without adding much flour; excess flour prevents the layers from bonding correctly.

3. 3

   Lay the sheet on the work surface and spread the softened lard over the entire surface in a very thin, even film. Starting from the short end, roll the sheet up as tightly as possible into a compact log, pulling gently as you roll to keep tension. Wrap and chill for 15 minutes so the fat firms up and the log slices cleanly.

4. 4

   Meanwhile, make the filling. In a small saucepan, bring the whole milk just to a simmer. Rain in the fine semolina while whisking constantly, then cook over low heat for 2-3 minutes until very thick and pulling from the sides of the pan. Scrape onto a plate and let it cool for a few minutes so it becomes just warm, not hot.

5. 5

   In a bowl, combine the ricotta, caster sugar, egg yolk, orange peel, candied orange peel, ground cinnamon, orange blossom water, vanilla extract, and a pinch of fine sea salt. Beat until smooth, then work in the warm semolina mixture until fully combined. The filling should be thick enough to hold its shape; if loose, chill briefly before piping or spooning.

6. 6

   Cut the chilled dough log into 6 equal pieces. Working one piece at a time, hold it with the spiral facing up and use your thumbs to press from the center outward, forming a thin conical shell with visible layers. Keep the center slightly thicker so it does not tear. If the dough softens too much, chill it for a few minutes before continuing.

7. 7

   Fill each shell with a generous spoonful of semolina-ricotta filling, then press the edges together just enough to enclose the filling while keeping the classic shell shape. Arrange on the prepared tray with space between them.

8. 8

   Brush the pastries lightly with the beaten egg. Bake for 22-25 minutes, rotating once, until deeply golden brown and crisp with clearly separated ridges. Proper color is essential: pale sfogliatelle will taste doughy rather than shatteringly crisp.

9. 9

   Let the sfogliatelle rest on the tray for 5 minutes to set the layers and allow the filling to stabilize. Dust with icing sugar just before serving. They are best eaten warm, when the shell is crispest and the filling is fragrant.

Nutrition per serving

Notes

• •Traditional sfogliatelle are extremely labor-intensive; this small-batch version keeps the authentic flavor and shape while fitting a shorter timeline.
• •Drain the ricotta well before using, or the filling may become too wet and leak during baking.
• •A pasta machine makes it much easier to achieve the very thin dough needed for crisp, defined layers.
• •Serve with espresso or strong black coffee for a classic Neapolitan pairing.

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