settembre 10, 2021
agosto 23, 2021
Irmik helvasi - Halva turceasca din gris cu coaja rasa de portocale si migdale macinate - Halva di semolino - Semolina halva with orange peels and ground almonds
Boil water, sugar, and orange zest until the sugar has dissolved. In another pot, add only the semolina and toast it over the heat, stirring very well and almost continuously, until the color changes and it releases a nutty aroma. The degree of toasting depends on your taste; the more you toast it, the deeper and richer the flavor will be. My grandmother used to toast it until it reached a color almost like milk chocolate.
At this point, add the fat (oil and clarified butter*) and cook everything together, mixing very well. The color will darken even more. Pour in the hot syrup and stir thoroughly to avoid lumps. Add the almonds and continue cooking over low heat, stirring almost constantly, until the mixture thickens very well, similar to a dense polenta. The semolina must be fully cooked.
Pour the mixture into a baking dish or a mold of your preferred shape, large or small. Once cooled, it can be cut into cubes or other shapes, or, as I did and as my grandmother used to do, you can shape portions using two spoons and place them directly on a serving plate. Decorate with almonds.
*clarified butter: ghee or burro chiarificato
giugno 16, 2021
Easy Pita Bread
Ingredients:
Water as needed
3 cups of flour
2 teaspoons dry yeast
2 teaspoons sugar
A pinch of salt
2 teaspoons olive oil
(1 cup = American measuring cup)
Prepare a starter by mixing 1 cup of warm water, the yeast, the sugar, and ½ cup of flour. Let it rise for 15 minutes.
Now add the salt, the olive oil, and another 2 cups of flour, and knead well. The dough should be quite sticky at first; by kneading and gradually adding the remaining flour (½ cup) little by little, it will become a proper dough. Knead for 10 minutes, take a short break, then knead again, being careful not to add too much flour or too much water. The dough should remain soft. Let it rise, covered, for 1 hour in a bowl lightly greased with oil.
Transfer the dough onto your work surface, gently press it down with your hands, and divide it into 7–8 balls. Cover them and let them rest for at least 10 minutes.
Roll out each dough ball on a floured surface. While the first one cooks, roll out the next, and continue this way.
Heat a pan very well, lightly grease it, then wipe off the excess oil with a paper towel. Cook each flatbread for about 30 seconds, or until bubbles form on the surface, then flip it and cook for another 1–2 minutes. Flip it again briefly if needed.




