Tiramisu

“All the ingredients of our childhood”

Is not easy write about Tiramisu, since it has always been in our memory.  The smell of moka coffee, which we all grew up with in Italy, beaten eggs with sugar, which was the afternoon snack, or breakfast, with some drops of coffee (or Marsala) in it, and for who was really hungry, two cookies to soak in the cream. Isn’t this already a Tiramisu? By the way, if you want to know the meaning of this word, you can translate it as Pick-me-up or Pull-me-up.

In the 70’s we spent a lot of time with our grandparents, they’ve taken care of us with the simplicity of ingredients they prepared our food, which were the same they had grown up with. No prepackaged cakes, but only homemade ones.

Perhaps because of these memories, the recipe I propose has an original ingredients peculiarity… just these and nothing more: no liquor, no chocolate, no cream.

Mascarpone cheese

For those who never tried Mascarpone cheese, it is white (or light yellow), more or less thick (it depends on the brand) as beaten butter. Its taste is milky and neutral, in between milk and butter. Its taste perfectly matches with many ingredients, sweet or sour. Mascarpone is one of the most important ingredients in Tiramisu, it enriches the egg and sugar cream, giving a tiny acid note. If you are curious buy some! First taste a bit as it is, then try to mix it with some chocolate cream, or make a snack with some whole grain bread, mascarpone cheese and smoked salmon: you will be surprised of its perfect versatility.

Ladyfingers or others?

The perfect biscuits for the job are the Ladyfingers. In all recipes you find for Tiramisu they are always the most advised ones. They have the right height to absorb a lot of coffee, very crumbly and spongy consistency, and the grainy sugar all around is perfect to balance the bitter coffee. It doesn’t mean that you cannot choose other types you prefer. Some make Tiramisu with Pavesini (equally crumbly biscuits and with a coat of sugar around but very thin) or sponge cake, or shortbread biscuits… it’s up to your taste!

Black bitter coffee

You cannot make Tiramisu without this ingredient, those who love it also love coffee. Many changes have recently appeared on the scene, replacing it with other liquid such as milk, barley or even with the juice of some fruit. But without coffee it cannot be called Tiramisu. Coffee must be strong and bitter. Obviously, if necessary, for example for children, you can use decaffeinated coffee

Tiramisu

All theingredients of our childhood

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Italian

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

• 4 egg yolks
• 2 egg white
• 125 gr icing sugar
• 500 gr mascarpone cheese
• Coffee (about 450ml)
• Ladyfingersabout 18
• Bitter Cocoa powder

Instructions

 

• In a large bowl, whisk sugar with the egg yolks until thick, foamy and pale.
• Pour the mascarpone into themixture and starting with a fork, whisk until all lumps are completely melted.
• Add egg whites heavy whipped, and gently pour it into the mascarpone cream.
• In a rectangular dish spread the mascarpone cream (1/3of the entire quantity). Line with all of the ladyfingers previously soaked in coffee, one by one. Transfer the rest of the cream spreading it over the ladyfingers.
• Sprinkle the whole surfacewith cocoa powder (just before you serve it, if you like dusty effect). Refrigerate for a day or at least 3 hours (following the tips as mentioned above, in the paragraph about Ladyfingers).

Keyword ladyfingers, mascarpone

If you’ve enjoyed it, share it with your friends and update picture on Instagram ecc…