Zuccotto alla Ricotta
- 1 (9 or 10-inch) Pan di Spagna, baked and cooled
- Butter for the mold
- 1 pound ricotta
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 3 tablespoons Strega liqueur or other sweet liqueur, plus extra for sprinkling over Pan di Spagna
- 1 envelope gelatin
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons chopped, toasted slivered almonds
- 3/4 cup egg whites (whites of 6 large eggs)
- 1 cup sugar
- Butter a 1 1/2-quart bowl and line it with plastic wrap.
- Slice a disk from the Pan di Spagna and cut the rest into 2 large wedges.
- Cut the wedges into thin slices and line the bowl with them.
- Sprinkle with the Strega.
- Reserve the disk to cover the filling later on.
- Combine the ricotta and confectioners' sugar in the food processor and process until smooth, about 2 minutes.
- Combine the Strega and gelatin and allow to soak until the liquid is absorbed, then place over simmering water to melt.
- Whisk the dissolved gelatin into the ricotta mixture.
- Whip the cream and fold it into the mixture.
- Fold in the almonds.
- Pour the filling into the prepared mold and cover with the reserved slice of the Pan di Spagna.
- Cover with plastic wrap and chill until set, about 6 hours.
- Invert the Zuccotto on the platter and remove the bowl and plastic wrap.
- For the meringue, combine egg whites and sugar in the bowl of electric mixer and place over a pan of simmering water, whisking constantly, until egg whites are hot and sugar is dissolved.
- Whip on mixer until cooled and increased in volume.
- Spread meringue on outside of dessert.
- Pipe on a decoration of remaining meringue with a pastry bag fitted with a medium star tube.
- Place Zuccotto in 400 degree oven for about 5 minutes to color meringue.
- Chill before serving.
pan, butter, ricotta, sugar, strega liqueur, gelatin, heavy cream, almonds, egg whites, sugar
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/zuccotto-alla-ricotta-recipe.html (may not work)