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Cjarsons

17/11/2023

Cjarsons (or Cjalzons) are a traditional dish of the Friulian cuisine, especially from Carnia. These sweet and savory ravioli feature a filling that varies from town to town, but I can give you a classic version. Before starting, make sure you have all the ingredients.

Ingredients for the dough:

  • 300 g of flour
  • 1 egg
  • Water as needed
  • A pinch of salt

Ingredients for the filling:

  • 250 g of potatoes
  • 50 g of dark chocolate
  • 100 g of yellow pumpkin
  • 50 g of mixed aromatic herbs (parsley, mint, basil)
  • 30 g of raisins
  • 30 g of candied citron
  • 30 g of pine nuts
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar
  • Salt and pepper as needed
  • 100 g of smoked ricotta (or aged Montasio cheese)

Ingredients for the dressing:

  • 100 g of butter
  • 50 g of smoked ricotta or aged Montasio cheese
  • Cinnamon as needed

Preparation

  1. Start with the dough: place the flour in a mound on a work surface, add the egg and a pinch of salt, then start kneading, adding water a little at a time until you get a smooth and elastic dough. Let it rest covered for about 30 minutes.

  2. Prepare the filling by boiling the potatoes and pumpkin. Once soft, mash them and wait for them to cool down. Mix the potatoes and pumpkin in a bowl, adding the chopped chocolate, finely chopped aromatic herbs, raisins, diced candied citron, pine nuts, sugar, salt and pepper. Blend the ingredients well and add the grated cheese.

  3. Roll out the dough into a thin sheet and cut out circles of about 8 cm in diameter. Place a dollop of filling in the center of each circle and close into a half-moon shape, sealing the edges well.

  4. Cook the Cjarsons in plenty of boiling salted water for about 5 minutes or until they float to the surface.

  5. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pan, add a little cinnamon and some smoked ricotta or grated cheese, stirring until you get a smooth sauce.

  6. Drain the Cjarsons with a slotted spoon and toss them in the butter and melted cheese dressing, then plate and sprinkle with more smoked ricotta or cheese and a pinch of cinnamon.

Curiosity

Cjarsons are a dish that fits with festivities as well as special occasions, their peculiarity being the blend of sweet and savory flavors, which reflects the richness of the Friulian culinary tradition and its geographical position at the crossroads of different food cultures.

Cjarsons