Often enjoyed with a glass of Marsala, these crisp cookies are made with honey and saffron and crusted in sesame seeds.
Among the many culinary Sicilian specialties, these biscotti (cookies) are a real institution not only in Palermo, the city where they were born, but in all Sicily. You can find these crispy and savory cookies in bakeries, pastry shops and even in the best supermarkets of the island. Usually, in bakeries, they are prepared with lard (and, therefore, have a crunchy texture) while in patisseries is privileged butter. In both cases, the taste is unique and special because of the presence, in the mixture, of saffron and toasted sesame covering cookies, giving an unmistakable scent.
Photo by G. Giustolisi
Younger diners, eat Reginelle for breakfast (or for snack) “dunked” in milk. Adults and the most refined palates, as tradition dictates, accompany these delights with a good glass of Marsala (Sicilian dessert wine). ?My recipe provides the use of olive oil, in substitution of animal fats, usually used in the preparation of these cookies. Raw sugar and honey are the finishing touch to a typical home made rustic recipe, to share with people we love.
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Sicilian Specialties: “Reginelle” Biscotti
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 20 -25 cookies 1x
Description
Often enjoyed with a glass of Marsala, these crisp cookies are made with honey and saffron and crusted in sesame seeds.
Ingredients
- 500 g 17 oz/2 cups Farro flour (or Kamut flour)
- 150 g 5 0z raw sugar
- 150 ml 5 fl oz extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp raw local honey
- pinch of sea salt
- 150 g 5 0z sesame
- 15 g 1/2 oz organic baking powder
- 1 tsp saffron
- milk (or rice milk to taste (the amount depends on the type of flour used (most are full or, recently refined and more milk is needed))
Instructions
- In a bowl, knead flour, sugar and baking powder. Add the oil, honey, saffron (dissolved in a little warm milk) and salt. Knead the ingredients until the consistency is very compact.
- Let the dough rest for 30 minutes. Obtained sticks length of about five centimeters, and cover the dough with sesame.
- Place the cookies on a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper.
Cook in preheated oven at 200°C (400°F /gas 3) for about ten minutes. Subsequently lowered to 180° C (350° F / Gas 4) and cook for another 10-15 minutes.
- Prep Time: 40 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Baking, Dolci
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian, Sicilian
These look amazing!
Izzy -https://pinchofdelight.wordpress.com