Bread Project #5

Ravazzata

"'A loaf of bread,' the Walrus said, 'is what we chiefly need: Pepper and vinegar besides are very good indeed.'" --Lewis Carroll

While we were in Sicily we made sure to enjoy the typical foods available to us. A few years ago one of Luca's friends went to Sicily and when he came back he brought some deliciously ragù filled rolls. However Luca didn't know what they were called and as we travelled around the island, he would always try to get one from the bar or bakery when he had the chance. It took over 2 weeks to figure out what they were called.

We also discovered that they are only a Palermo thing and so when we were back there to catch the ferry we stopped and got some to bring back to Luca's family. And of course we had to attempt making them in our own home as well. 

This is no light snack, it's a meal in itself. It's stuffed with meat ragù and the giant roll is made with lard, but what isn't good when it's made with lard? 

 We've tried making ravazzate only once, however we loved the roll recipe which is easy and quick so we've been making batches and freezing them so we can have them with dinner whenever we want. So this a recipe I highly recommend. 

Recipe for Brioche da Rosticceria

8 cups flour

2 cups warm water

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup lard

4 tsp salt

50 grams yeast 

Mix flour, sugar, lard, and yeast. Slowly add the warm water. It's best to use a standing mixer with the hook attachment. Mix until the dough starts to form into a ball. Then add the salt. (DON'T FORGET THE SALT) and mix until the dough no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl. 

Once you have a nice round dough ball, rub a thin layer of lard around it. Place it in a covered bowel in a warm dry place to rise. Let it sit for about 20 minutes- until it's doubled in size.  Then you can use this dough to make one large loaf, rolls, or ravazzata.

Bake in the oven at 400º for about 10 minutes. 

I'm not giving the ragù recipe because I didn't particularly like this recipe and there are so many different variations so if you want to make a ravazzata and not just the bread rolls look up a recipe and you'll easily find one!