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Stuffed Tangerines

17/11/2023

Stuffed tangerines are a fresh and delicious dessert, ideal for ending a meal on a sweet note without weighing you down. Here is a recipe you can follow to prepare them:

Ingredients

  • 4 large tangerines
  • 150 g of ricotta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar (or other sweetener of your choice)
  • 1 tablespoon of chopped pistachios (or other nuts, if you prefer)
  • Grated zest of 1 lemon (organic if possible)
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract (optional)
  • Dark chocolate, chopped or chocolate chips (quantity to taste, optional)
  • Honey or maple syrup to garnish (optional)

Preparation

  1. Cut the top off the tangerines and set it aside. With a spoon, carefully hollow out the tangerines, trying not to break the skin. Using scissors or a small knife, remove any internal white filaments and make sure the inside is smooth.

  2. Extract the juice and pulp from the tangerines, removing the seeds. You can use a strainer to get just the juice, if you wish, and set it aside.

  3. In a bowl, mix the ricotta with the powdered sugar until you get a smooth cream. Add the lemon zest, vanilla extract, chopped pistachios, and dark chocolate, if you decide to use it. If the mixture is too thick, you can thin it with a little of the reserved tangerine juice.

  4. With a spoon or a piping bag, fill the tangerine shells with the ricotta cream.

  5. Garnish each stuffed tangerine with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup and replace the tangerine top as a “lid.”

  6. Let the stuffed tangerines rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

If you want to add a more Italian touch, you might consider adding a bit of orange liqueur, like Grand Marnier, to the ricotta cream to intensify the citrus aroma.

Curiosity

Stuffed tangerines lend themselves to numerous variations. For example, in Sicily, it is common to find ice creams or sorbets served inside emptied citrus shells. This version with ricotta is a lighter and healthier variant that highlights the freshness of tangerines combined with ricotta, an ingredient widely used in Italian desserts like the Sicilian cassata.

Stuffed Tangerines