Tentasiù de la Spusa

The “Bride’s Temptations” or “Tentasu de la Spusa” are a traditional Sicilian dessert, specifically from the area of Erice. They are very delicious sweets that are traditionally prepared for special occasions, such as weddings. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 400 g of flour
• 200 g of sugar
• 200 g of peeled almonds
• 2 eggs (plus one yolk to brush on top)
• 60 g of lard (or butter)
• 1 vial of vanilla essence
• Grated zest of one lemon
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 1/2 packet of baking powder
• Powdered sugar for dusting
• Apricot jam (or another flavor to taste)

Preparation

1. Start by finely chopping the almonds to obtain almond flour.
2. In a large bowl, mix the almond flour with the sugar, honey, sifted flour, baking powder, lard, a pinch of salt, vanilla essence, and grated lemon zest.
3. Add the eggs and work all the ingredients until you have a homogeneous dough.
4. Let the dough rest in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap for about 30 minutes.
5. After resting, take small portions of the dough and form into balls the size of a walnut.
6. Flatten each ball to obtain disks and put a teaspoon of apricot jam in the center.
7. Fold the disks over themselves to form little bundles, sealing the edges well to prevent the jam from leaking out during cooking.
8. Arrange the sweets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush them with a beaten egg yolk.
9. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
10. Let cool and dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Curiosity

The name “Bride’s Temptations” refers to the idea that these sweets are so delicious as to tempt anyone, including the bride on her wedding day, who traditionally should resist temptations to look her best. They are desserts that embody the Sicilian art of pastry making and encapsulate the richness and sweetness of the island.