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Quaresimali
Lenten almond biscuits
Quaresimali: crunchy Lenten almond biscuits made with egg white and no butter
Quaresimali are biscuits for Quaresima, the forty days of Lent, when Catholic Italy once gave up butter, egg yolks and rich foods. In Florence they are crisp cocoa biscuits shaped like letters of the alphabet; in Palermo they are long, crunchy almond and honey biscotti, sliced like cantucci. This is the Palermo-style version: whole almonds in a light dough of egg white, sugar and flour, scented with orange and cinnamon, baked twice. They are dairy free and keep for weeks. Chef's tip: slice the logs while still warm with a serrated knife; once cold they shatter.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 24
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz whole almonds, skin on
- 7 oz plain flour
- 5 ½ oz caster sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 orangezest only
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 pinch salt
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan) and line a tray.
Step 2: Mix 7 oz plain flour, 5 ½ oz caster sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 pinch salt and 1 orange in a bowl, then stir in 5 ½ oz whole almonds, skin on.
Step 3: Add 1 tbsp honey and 2 egg whites and work with your hands into a firm, sticky dough.
Step 4: With wet hands, shape into two logs about 4 cm wide and 25 cm long. Set them on the tray and flatten slightly.
Step 5: Bake for 20 minutes, until golden and firm. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut on the diagonal into 1.5 cm slices. A common mistake is waiting until the logs are cold: they crumble under the knife.
20 minStep 6: Lay the slices flat and bake for 10–12 minutes more, until dry and crisp. Cool on a rack and store in a tin.
12 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 100 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 14 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does quaresimali take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 24 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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