You’re sure to have seen biscotti somewhere, even if you’ve never been to Italy. They’re those long chunks of biscuit that you find on sale in the big coffee chains. They’ve often got bits of almond inside – and can be tooth-breakingly hard. In Italy you’ll often get a small biscotto in your saucer with your coffee – you’re meant to dip the biscuit in the coffee, which softens it up.
Biscotti means twice cooked, and there are several variations on the basic recipe: some are sweetened with honey, others flavoured with lemon or anise. They are said to date back to Renaissance times, when banquets included all sorts of sweet treats. The flavour of homemade biscotti is far nicer than many of the versions you can buy. And they’re not as difficult to make as you might think. This recipe for Orange and Walnut Biscotti comes from Vegetarian Cooking: A Commonsense Guide (pub. Murdoch Books, £10.99) and appears here with permission.
Homemade Orange and Walnut Biscotti – Recipe
Ingredients – makes around 40 biscotti
- 310g (11oz/2 ½ cups) plain (all purpose) flour, plus extra for rolling
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- 170g (6oz/¾ cup) caster (superfine) sugar
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- Grated zest of 3 oranges
- 2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
- 250g (9oz/2 ½ cups) walnut halves, lightly toasted and roughly chopped
Method
- Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F/Gas 3). Lightly grease a baking tray.
- Sift the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda into a large bowl, then stir in the sugar.
- Crack the eggs into another bowl, then add the orange zest and vanilla and mix well using a fork. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir until nearly combined. Using your hands, knead briefly to form a firm dough. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead the walnuts into the dough.
- Divide the dough into three equal portions. Working with one piece at a time, roll each portion to form a 29cm (11 ½ inch) log. Gently pat the surface to flatten the log to a 4cm (1 ½ inch) width, then place on the baking tray and bake for 30 minutes, or until the logs are light golden and firm. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 150°C (300°F/Gas 2). When the biscotti logs are cool enough to handle, place them on a chopping board and, using a sharp, serrated knife, cut them on the diagonal into slices 1cm (1/2 inch) thick.
- Arrange the slices in a single layer on two lightly greased baking trays. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the biscotti are dry, swapping the trays around halfway through baking. Remove from the oven and leave to cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
Try this recipe for Homemade Ravioli with Herbs and Sage Butter
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