This delicious tart is perfect for Shavuot. It is a speciality of Boccione, a famous kosher Roman bakery. They make it with a wonderful ewe’s milk ricotta typical of Rome, and visciole, a tart sour cherry jam. Here’s my version, which uses a shortcrust base and lattice pastry top like a traditional crostata. If you can’t find sour cherry jam, use a regular cherry (or any other) jam instead and reduce the amount of sugar in the filling.
- For the pastry: Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest and a pinch of salt in a large bowl, then rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
- Add the egg, mix quickly and work the pastry with your hands into a disc. Alternatively make the pastry in a food processor. Flour it lightly, wrap it in clingfilm and refrigerate for about 40 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 190˚C (170°C fan).
- For the filling: Beat the whole egg with the sugar, add the ricotta and sherry and gently mix.
- Line a 26cm tart tin (with removable base) with 2/3rds of the pastry.
- Prick the pastry base with a fork then spread with sour cherry jam. Top with the ricotta mixture.
- Roll the remaining 1/3rd of pastry thinly and cut long strips of different lengths (about 1.5cm
- wide). Place them on top of the tart in a lattice pattern.
- Bake for 35–40 minutes then cool on a rack for at least 1 hour before removing from the tin.
- Serve it warm, at room temperature or fridge cold. The ricotta is thicker when the tart is cold. It keeps well covered for a day at room temperature or refrigerated for up to 3 days
www.cookingforthesoul.com
