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Pasticcio di Noto

17/11/2023

The Pasticcio di Noto is a typical dessert of the Sicilian pastry, particularly of the city of Noto, in the province of Syracuse, famous for its almonds. This dessert is a kind of pistachio and almond tart, covered with icing and often decorated with candied fruit or chocolate. The recipe may vary from one pastry shop to another, but here is a classic version that you could try at home.

Ingredients

  • 300g of type 00 flour
  • 150g of sugar
  • 150g of soft butter
  • 1 whole egg + 1 yolk
  • Grated zest of 1 lemon
  • A pinch of salt
  • Apricot or peach jam, as needed

For the filling:

  • 200g of peeled almonds
  • 100g of sugar
  • 100g of unsalted pistachios
  • 3 eggs
  • Grated zest of 1 lemon

For the icing:

  • 200g of powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of lemon juice

Preparation

  1. For the base, cream the soft butter with sugar until smooth. Add the whole egg, the yolk, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt.
  2. Gradually incorporate the flour, kneading until you get a homogeneous mixture. Wrap the dough in cling film and let it rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  3. For the filling, finely grind the almonds and pistachios with sugar in a mixer until you have a coarse flour. Add the eggs and lemon zest, blending well.
  4. Roll out the base dough in a previously buttered and floured pan, creating a high edge. Prick the bottom with a fork, and spread a thin layer of apricot or peach jam.
  5. Pour the almond and pistachio filling on the base and bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 30-40 minutes, or until the surface of the pasticcio has browned.
  6. While the pasticcio is cooking, prepare the icing by mixing the powdered sugar with lemon juice until you have a dense but spreadable icing.
  7. Once baked, let the pasticcio cool down then cover it with the sugar icing.
  8. If desired, decorate with chopped pistachios, sliced almonds, or candied fruit before the icing sets.

Curiosity

The Pasticcio di Noto, in addition to being an excellence of Sicilian pastry, represents the union of two of the most precious ingredients of the region: almonds and pistachios. These nuts are at the heart of many Sicilian sweet preparations, and their combination in a single dessert makes them a symbol of the taste and tradition of this land.

Pasticcio di Noto