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Ricotta, Amaretti, and Coffee Tart

17/11/2023

The ricotta, amaretti, and coffee tart is a delicious variation of the more classic ricotta tart. Here is the recipe to make this delightful sweet cake.

Ingredients

  • Ready-made or homemade shortcrust pastry (for a 24 cm diameter tart pan):
    • 300 g of 00 flour
    • 150 g of cold butter, cut into cubes
    • 120 g of icing sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 yolk
    • Grated zest of 1 lemon
  • For the filling:
    • 500 g of fresh ricotta
    • 100 g of granulated sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 100 g of amaretti biscuits
    • 50 ml of strong espresso coffee
    • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing the shortcrust pastry: in a bowl, mix flour with icing sugar and lemon zest. Add the butter and begin to work with your fingertips until you get a sandy mixture.
  2. Add the egg and the yolk and knead quickly until you get a smooth dough. Wrap in cling film and let it rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, prepare the filling: in a bowl, work the ricotta with the sugar and eggs until you obtain a homogeneous mixture. Add the espresso coffee and the vanilla extract. Crumble the amaretti biscuits and fold them into the ricotta mixture.
  4. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
  5. Roll out the shortcrust pastry into a thin layer and line a previously buttered and floured tart pan, creating a rim about 2 cm high.
  6. Pour the ricotta filling onto the shortcrust pastry base and smooth the surface with a spatula.
  7. Bake the tart for about 40-45 minutes, or until the surface is lightly golden and the filling is firm to the touch.
  8. Allow the tart to cool completely before cutting and serving.

An Italian touch: for an even more local twist, you might add a pinch of cinnamon or orange zest to the ricotta for a more intense and Mediterranean aroma.

Curiosity

Ricotta is a very commonly used ingredient in Italian sweet preparations, such as Neapolitan pastiera or Sicilian cannoli. It is appreciated for its freshness and for the ability to make desserts rich but not excessively heavy. The addition of amaretto, a biscuit with a distinctive almond flavor, provides crispiness and a unique taste that pairs perfectly with the soft ricotta and the penetrating aroma of coffee.

Ricotta, Amaretti and Coffee Tart