Cassata Siciliana

This recipe is from The Delia Collection: Italian.

This delightful Italian dessert is really just an assembly job as far as you’re concerned, but everyone will think you’re very clever!

The Delia Online Cookery School: Watch how to zest and juice citrus fruits in our video on this page.

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The fruits in Cassata

Asked by: Shahrada

I am wanting to try Delia's Cassata Siciliana recipe but cannot access Sainsbury's mango and cranberry fruit mix. Other than the obvious components of mango and cranberries, can you tell me what other ingredients are included please? I am unable to buy this here in Australia and the Sainsbury web-site appears to be down. I am assuming that this is a dried fruit mix but it would be good to get some idea of the relative proportions of the various components.

Answered by Lindsey: Hello, I doubt that it is still in store as so much time has passed. However, I believe it was a combination of dried mango, dried cranberries, raisins & golden sultanas. Best wishes Lindsey

Method

Begin by pouring the Marsala and orange juice into a small saucepan and heating gently.

Then add the dried fruits, and remove the pan from the heat to allow them to steep in the juice for half an hour until they have swelled slightly. Then drain them in a sieve set over a bowl to catch the liquid and leave to get cold. Meanwhile, in a large bowl put the ricotta cheese, crème fraîche, chocolate drops, orange zest, chopped pistachios and sugar, give everything a good stir, then add the drained fruit when it is cold. Now line the base and long sides of the loaf tin with the sponge fingers, dipped first in the reserved Marsala and orange juice and trimmed to fit comfortably.

They need to be put in sugar-side down. Reserve 6 to 8 soaked sponge fingers for the top. After that, any remaining liquid can be sprinkled over the biscuits in the tin. Next, spoon in the ricotta and fruit mixture, patting it down into the tin to remove any air bubbles. Finally, place the remaining soaked biscuits on top. Cover tightly with clingfilm and refrigerate overnight.

Next day, serve cut into thin slices – it doesn’t need any accompaniment as it’s really yummy as it is.

Want to know more about Marsala? Read Travels with Delia