Wednesday, January 2, 2013

New Year's Eve Panforte

All images © Valery Rizzo

Last year I made Struffoli for New Years Eve, so this year I was planning to make my personal favorite during the holidays, Panetone, but then I found out how difficult it was to make, so instead I settled on trying my hand at baking a Panforte, which is super easy. 

My father is the one who introduced me to Coluccio in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Technically called D. Coluccio & Sons and is located on 60th Street just a couple blocks away from the elevated train over New Utrecht Avenue in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn. Coluccio was my no brainer go to place for all my ingredients for my Panforte

You believe your in Italy when your inside the Italian Specialty shop, everyone who shops there is Italian. They have a huge selection of farro, kamut, mushroom, dark wheat and other specialty pastas that I never find anywhere else. I also noticed they have all sorts of interesting flours and semolina to bake with like almond flour for example. Italian sodas, sparkling waters, cookies, chocolate, imported cheese and meats, espresso makers, I even found carob pods. I purchased my candied fruit, dried figs, dates and peeled almonds for the Panforte and then picked up all the spices at The Park Slope Food Coop, best spices around. 

Panforte is a traditional Sienese cake and dates back to the 13th century, so I dedicated this holiday cake to my niece, Siena, who my sister named after the beautiful town in Italy. It is a highly spiced fruit cake and has all the warmth of winter. You can enjoy a small slice of it with tea or serve after a meal with coffee and liqueurs. It's also follows Antonio Carluccio's recipe from the book, Two Greedy Italian's Eat Italy, only I doubled the ingredients to make a slightly thicker 8 inch round cake. You could also easily make a smaller 4 or 6 inch cake using half of the ingredients.


Panforte Senese (Traditional Sienese Cake)

Rice paper, for lining
600g dried figs and dates, pitted
4 tbsp runny honey
100ml Vin Santo
1 teaspoon each of ground cloves, cinnamon, pepper, nutmeg
6 tbsp plain flour (I used unbleached all purpose flour)
200g soft brown sugar
600g candied fruit (citron, lemon, orange etc.) I used citron
200g peeled almonds
icing sugar, for dusting

Makes 1 8in cake (1 inch thick)


Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line an 8 inch round baking tin with edible rice paper. ( I used a round tin with a removable base and trimmed my rice paper into a circle.)

Mince the figs and dates coarsely, then put into a saucepan. Add the honey and cover with the Vin Santo. Add the spices, flour and brown sugar, and melt over gentle heat until everything comes together. Cook gently for 10 min.

Pour the mixture into a bowl and add the candied fruit and almonds. Mix well and pour everything into the lined baking tin. Bake for 40 to 45 min., then remove from the oven and leave to cool. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve cut into morsels or thin slices.


5 comments:

  1. Hello Valery!

    You Panforte certainly looks better than the commercial Panforte Sapori dry old stuff you buy in the shops!

    Your Panforte looks moist and appetising...I can see dried figs and almonds... they look good!

    Well done for making it from scratch! I love the way you explore Italian culture through food. I believe food says so much about a place, its history and its people!

    Felice Anno Nuovo, Valeria!

    Con affetto da

    Anna
    XXX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Anna! Yes, I wish you could have shared it with us this year. Maybe next year! Lets collaborate and make something when you come visit in February, we can source everything from Brooklyn and make it at my place.

      Ciao, XO Valeria

      Delete
  2. Happy new year Valery! This looks amazing. Have you tried Roscón de Reyes this year?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I have not tried a Roscon this year but I am a big fan! and have had one the last two years, a mexican version. I would love to try one from Spain or France even. I photographed them making the rings in Brooklyn last year http://nonabrooklyn.com/the-rosca-de-reyes-valery-rizzo-captures-an-epiphany-at-sunset-parks-don-paco-lopez-panaderia/#.UOwTX46xrQc

      Happy New Year!

      Delete
  3. Has a great look! I'll definitely try it! Have some method of how to cook rightly in a cheap way:
    Efficient eating
    By the way, I followed you up with GFC, it'd be great if you follow me back.

    ReplyDelete