Ingredients
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For the dough
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600 g Flourmanitoba type possibly
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330 g Water
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10 g Brewer's yeastFresh
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140 g LardSoft
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10 g Salt
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1 tablespoon Pepperfreshly ground black pepper
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For the filling
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120 g Sweet provolone cheese
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50 g Caciocavallo cheeseor other tasty stringy cheese
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120 g Napoli-type salamicut into very thin slices, which I prefer to cubes (the original recipe also calls for cracklings, if you want to use them insert 75 gr of Napoli-type salami and 75 gr of crackling
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40 g BaconSweet
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40 g Pecorino cheese
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1 tablespoon Pepperground black pepper
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To complete
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4 Egg
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1 Egg yolk
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1 tablespoon Whole milk
Directions
Casatiello Napoletano (Neapolitan Casatiello) is a rustic leavened bread typical of the Neapolitan tradition of the Easter season. It is a very tasty bread, shaped like a doughnut; made of flour, water, lard and pepper, with a rich filling of cheese and cold cuts; decorated with eggs on the surface tied in a cross with strips of dough!
An ancient preparation with strong Christian symbolism representing the crown of thorns of the Crucifix! As Neapolitan tradition commands, it is prepared on Good Friday, enjoyed on Saturday and is never missing from the Easter lunch table of every Neapolitan family; and if there are a few slices left over, it becomes the sack lunch for the Easter picnic (Easter Monday)!
Follow this Casatiello Napoletano Recipe with all the tips and secrets illustrated step by step and you will bring the best homemade savory Casatiello Napoletano to the table! Just like the one bought in the most accredited Neapolitan rotisseries!
Like any traditional recipe, there are different versions: like the Casatiello sfogliato, the one prepared with natural yeast, there is also a version of sweet Casatiello! Many then are the variants, such as Casatielli mignon and similar preparations, one of which is the Tortano napoletano, another typical rustic Easter Neapolitan recipe; similar to casatiello in the dough but in this case the eggs are inserted already hard-boiled in the filling!
The one I am giving you today is the Original Recipe of Casatiello Napoletano salato! It is a very simple preparation; which you can also knead by hand, without the help of the planetary mixer!
Just combine the ingredients as indicated in the procedure and string the dough together with sugna (lard) as the ancient recipe dictates; an indispensable ingredient that gives a unique softness to Casatiello Napoletano! Once it has risen, all you need to do is roll out the dough thinly, then stuff it with cheese and cold cuts, finally roll it up and place it in the pan, at which time the eggs should be added and tied on top!
The Secret that will guarantee you a fluffy casatiello for days, digestible and super yummy is to use very little yeast, make a little pre-dough and choose top quality sliced meats for the filling! Great cold, when all the aromas and flavors are cooled and the slices cut precisely! Ideal not only for Easter Lunch, Easter Monday picnic, but also as a rustic pie for spring outings!
Steps
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How to prepare the Casatiello napoletano |
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4
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Give it a few turns with the planetary mixer or kneading machine; or knead by hand. The dough will be quite firm. Let work at medium-high speed until the mixture no longer sticks to the basket but clings to the leaf (K whisk). |
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String the Casatiello Napoletano |
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Then give the mixer a few turns (first medium speed then high speed) and only when the first bits of lard have been fully absorbed, turn off the machine, turn the dough upside down, take it in your hands, round it out by spinning it between your hands or on the work surface giving it a regular spherical shape (this gives the dough a regular growth during rising): bring the excess dough down to make a smooth ball-shaped surface. |
7
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The dough, you will feel it in your hands, already after the first bits of lard are introduced, will feel softer and more relaxed and will begin to hold in gluten. Then put the dough back into the planetary mixer, insert a few more pieces of lard and repeat the kneading and round it out by spinning it between your hands operation until the fat is used up. Add the salt, let it work until it is completely absorbed (a few seconds) and add the pepper, let it be completely absorbed into the dough. |
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Replace the k whisk with the hook whisk and complete the stringing phase by giving the last few turns at high speed, alternating pauses in which you will tip the dough. The final dough is ready when it is well strung (pulling and not breaking) smooth and shiny and does not stick to the walls of the basket. (It will take 10 to 20 minutes depending on the tool you are using). |
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For perfect leavening follow these tips now. Form a ball using the method explained above and grease a fairly large bowl with lard (I cleaned out the one in the planetary mixer) seal the bowl with foil and place the loaf to rise at a temperature of 26° to 28° (78,8°-82,4°F) away from drafts (I prefer the oven turned off recently at 50°C - 122°F). |
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11
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12
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Cut off from the bottom end a small piece of dough (about 30 g) form into a ball and set aside. It will be used to make the stripes on the eggs. Let the dough rest 30 minutes |
13
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How to roll out the Casatiello Napoletano dough. |
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How to stuff Casatiello Napoletano1)First lay half of the grated pecorino cheese all over the pastry sheet. 2)Add selected cold cuts and cheeses that you have previously taken out of the refrigerator and cut into cubes 3) Sprinkle with a generous grinding of pepper (preferably freshly ground) 4) Top with the remaining grated pecorino cheese: |
15
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How to shape Casatiello Napolitano |
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18
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How to arrange the eggs on the Casatiello Napoletano |
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At this point proceed with the last rising, again oven turned off at a temperature of 26° to 28°C (78,8°-82,4°F) for about 2 h - 2 h ½ until your Casatiello has doubled its volume, looks nice and puffy and has reached the edge of the pan. Brush now the surface with egg yolk and milk at room temperature: |
21
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Perfect cooking of Casatiello NapoletanoHeat the oven to 200°C (392°F) and then lower it to 180°C (356°F) and bake your Casatiello Napoletano for about 45 minutes. Prefer a static oven and place the Casatiello in the medium-low part of the oven. Check the baking from time to time ( not before 30 minutes) and always do the toothpick test before taking it out. Baking may change by a few minutes depending on the oven you use. |
22
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Another little trick is to lightly, without any pressure after the 30 minutes baking time, lay a sheet of aluminum foil on the surface of your rustic, so that the egg decorations do not burn. |
23
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24
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How to store the casatielloCasatiello Napoletano keeps perfectly 3 days sealed in a plastic food bag so that it does not lose its fragrance. You can enjoy it cold or slightly warmed in the oven at 100°C - 212°F (or in the microwave) for a few minutes. It will turn out fluffy and soft. If it leftovers, don't worry, you can also freeze your Casatiello, I have done it more than once. Just take it out and let it thaw naturally. A few minutes in the oven and it will be delicious. |