Tuscan Bischeri Cake
Torta coi bischeri is a traditional Tuscan dessert, more precisely from the municipality of Pontasserchio, in the province of Pisa.
- 300g flour
- 150g butter
- 150g sugar
- 1uovo
- maraschino
- sale
- 1L milk
- 160g Originario rice
- 100sugar
- 50g pine nuts
- 50g raisins
- 50g chopped dark chocolate
- 50g cacao dolce
- 40g maraschino
- 1uovo
- Mix flour and sugar, then add the butter cut into pieces to obtain a sandy mixture.
- Add the egg, half a cup of maraschino liqueur, and a pinch of salt, and continue kneading until the dough becomes firm. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Cook the rice and milk over low heat for at least 25 minutes. It should be creamy and not too dry, like custard. Then add the sugar, pine nuts, raisins, and maraschino liqueur.
- Add the chopped chocolate and sifted cocoa powder and mix until smooth and the chocolate is thoroughly melted. Let it rest for 10 minutes, then add the egg, having lightly beaten it.
- Roll out 3/4 of the dough and use it to line a smooth springform pan (ø 22-24 cm). Make numerous incisions along the edge, spacing them 1.5-2 cm apart. Fold the edges over to form small points: the bischeri. Prick the bottom of the dough with a fork.
- Pour the rice into the pastry shell and decorate the surface with the remaining pastry, cut into strips with a wavy pastry wheel. Bake in a convection oven at 180°C for at least 45 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool before unmolding. Serve cold.
Why is it called torta coi bischeri?
According to tradition, torta coi bischeri was offered to pilgrims who flocked to the feast of the Most Holy Crucifix of the Miracle: to recall the crown of the crucified Jesus, a crispy shortcrust pastry shell topped with pointed tips, the bischeri.
What are the ingredients of torta coi bischeri?
In the torta coi bischeri, a shortcrust pastry shell encloses a delicious filling made with rice, chocolate, cocoa, raisins, and pine nuts.
This recipe was given to us by our reader Elda Pellegrini Galeotti, who says: "When my husband's grandmother brought torta coi bischeri to the table, it meant the party was important, one celebrated with the whole family, in the shade of the holm oaks in the garden, in the house by the sea. For decades, this has been the Galeotti family's birthday cake."
Try making torta coi bischeri and discover the best places in Pisa to buy it.
