Martorana fruit , whose original recipe is part of the island's history , is a traditional Sicilian dessert known throughout the world. Contrary to what the name suggests, it is not a fruit, even if it could be mistaken for one and, despite being typical of the Feast of the Dead , it can be found in pastry shops all year round, exposed in plain sight in the windows to capture the attention of passers-by.
What is marzipan fruit, meaning
It is a confectionery preparation that is obtained from marzipan , an ingredient similar to marzipan from which it differs, however, in the realization with almonds , sugar, orange blossom water. The compound that comes out, extremely malleable, allows pastry chefs to obtain many and different shapes, very realistic, which reproduce fruit as well as other subjects.
The history of marzipan fruit
The Palermo martorana fruit owes its name to Eloisa Martorana , founder of the third Benedictine monastery of Palermo with a beautiful garden inside, envied by the whole city and perfumed thanks to the numerous lemon , cedar and orange blossom trees. And the fruit of the same name would have been created right here, by the nuns of the Martorana . In fact, while waiting for the king's visit, curious to see the much praised garden, a nun, to make up for the lack of vegetation due to autumn, proposed to offer him a cake of her own invention. This was based on almonds and honey which, manipulated together and left to dry in the air, were able to give life to the lemons that the garden temporarily did not offer. And that and the nuns decided to hang on trees. The king fell into the benevolent deception with all the shoes. After complimenting the fruit, he detached one from the tree and noticed, at the first bite, the sweetest surprise. The rest is history.
The recipe for homemade marzipan fruit
Making martorana fruit at home is really very simple, just mix together the ingredients you find listed below and follow every single step. But, first, a clarification.
Hot or cold?
There are two methods for making marzipan fruit, the hot method and the cold method (found below). The first consists in dissolving the sugar in the water over a low heat and, as soon as it starts to boil, adding away from the heat the almond flour and almond essence, then mix well until you obtain a mouldable compound.
Ingredients
- 1 kg of almond flour
- 750 g of icing sugar
- 100 g of liquid glucose for sweets
- 2 vials of almond essence
- 70 ml of water (at room temperature)
Preparation
Pour the almond flour and icing sugar into a bowl. Mix them and add the glucose and almond essence. Mix everything well, gradually adding the water. You will have to obtain a smooth and homogeneous dough. At this point you have to shape it in the best way or transfer it into the appropriate moulds.
Molds for marzipan fruit
To package the marzipan fruit obtaining an impeccable result in terms of shape and appearance, it is necessary to use molds . The traditional ones, which can still be found in Palermo, are made of plaster . Alternatively, they can be purchased in silicone both in shops specializing in pastry items or online, where the choice is quite vast and offers numerous subjects including fruit, vegetables, fish, angels & Co. If in plaster, coat them before introducing the paste with the transparent film and, once the shape is obtained, put the subjects to dry for 24 hours on a tray abundantly dusted with icing sugar, to prevent them from sticking.
Ludido for marzipan fruit homemade
To polish the marzipan fruit it is necessary to use a polish easily available on the market. Food gum arabic is widely used.
Thermomix marzipan fruit
To prepare the martorana fruit with the Thermomix starting from the almonds, just insert them in the bowl and chop them for 30 seconds at speed 9, then set them aside and add the sugar and lemon zest to the bowl, grind for 20 seconds at speed 10, then add the flour almonds, water, glucose and mix for 20 seconds at speed 4.
Curiosity about dessert
It is as popular as it is at the center of numerous doubts and curiosities : marzipan fruit is original and captivating with its so truthful appearance. In Messina as well as in Palermo - or in the rest of Sicily - it is easily available. To buy it outside the island you can rely on the online sale of marzipan fruit. On Sicilyaddict you will find one of the best .
How to paint Martorana fruit
It is painted using a mix of ingredients, in particular powder dyes, alcohol and food polish. In addition, of course, brushes for food use of various sizes, and plastic plates and bowls. Just dip the brush in the alcohol and drop a few drops on the powdered dye, then mix well and use what you get on the paste.
How to keep it
Marzipan fruit should preferably be kept in a cool, dry place, away from heat sources. In these conditions it is kept at its best.
How much does it cost
The price per kg of martorana fruit varies according to the pastry shop or the producer, but is still around 28 euros.
How long does marzipan fruit last?
Marzipan fruit lasts several weeks, approximately 3-4 months thanks to the presence of glucose which is able to retain moisture perfectly.
Photo Credit | Oppidum Nissenae via Wikimedia Commons
