Olivette di Sant'Agata, history and recipe

Do you know the Sant'Agata olives ? We tell you the story of green sweets , the recipe (even with the Thermomix ) and some curiosities between calories and price per kg ). The olivette di Sant'Agata are, together with the minnuzze , the two desserts dedicated to the patron saint of Catania which are traditionally made from 3 to 5 February each year on the occasion of the great festival that takes place in the Sicilian city. Here, needless to say, the citizens are particularly devoted to her. But what are the olivettes of Sant'Agata, what is the legend that surrounds them and how are they prepared at home with the original recipe ?

The history of Sant'Agata olives

Also called alivetti or aliveddi ri Sant'Àjita , olive groves boast an ancient history. One of the legends tells that, on the way to the proconsul of Catania, Agata stopped for a moment to tie a sandal and, at the point where she touched the ground, an olive tree full of olives began to grow. Hence the custom of preparing these sweets typical of the feast of Sant'Agata by the people of Catania.

Olivette di Sant'Agata, the recipe

The following recipe is the original one from the monastery of Santa Caterina . It does not require special precautions, just follow it to the letter.

Ingredients

150 g blanched almonds
150 g granulated sugar
75ml water at room temperature
1 tablespoon of rum
1 level spoonful of icing sugar
2/3 drops of green food coloring
granulated sugar to taste

Preparation of the olives

Grind the almonds and icing sugar in a mixer until you get a flour.
Pour the granulated sugar and water into a saucepan and turn on the flame, keeping it low.
Stir until a clear syrup is obtained.
Remove from the flame, let it cool down, then add it to the almond flour together with the rum.
Mix well and add a few drops of green food colouring, kneading quickly until you obtain a homogeneous mixture.
Start creating the olivettes by modeling small portions of dough giving them an oval shape.
Then immediately pass them in the granulated sugar to make them adhere before the dough dries.
Let them dry overnight at room temperature and store them in an airtight container.

Olivette of Sant'Agata Bimby

These green sweets typical of Sant'Agata can also be made with the Thermomix : the recipe is very simple. Just pour almonds , icing sugar and granulated sugar into the mug and operate 20 sec. speed 10. Collect on the bottom and combine the rum, the coloring and the water, then operate again for 20 sec. speed 4. With the mixture obtained create the olives.