Cassata
Type of sponge cake From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cassata (/kəˈsɑːtə/ kə-SAH-tə) or cassata siciliana (Italian: [kasˈsaːta sitʃiˈljaːna]; Sicilian: [ka(s)ˈsaːta sɪʃɪˈljaːna]) is an Italian cake originating in the Sicily region.[1][2][3] It is typically composed of a round sponge cake moistened with fruit juices or liqueur and layered with ricotta cheese and candied fruit (a filling also used with cannoli). It has a shell of marzipan, pink and green colored icing, and decorative designs. Cassata may also refer to a Neapolitan ice cream containing candied or dried fruit and nuts.
| |
| Alternative names | Cassata siciliana |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Region or state | Sicily |
| Main ingredients | Sponge cake, fruit juice or liqueur, ricotta, candied peel, marzipan, icing |
| Variations | Cassata al forno ('in oven'), cassatella di sant'Agata |
Origin
Cassata is believed to have originated in Palermo in the 10th century, when under Emirate of Sicily.[4][5] The word al-qaššāṭī—القشاطي (Arabic for 'the cassata-maker')—was first mentioned in Corleone in 1178.[6][7]
The Arabic word qas'ah, from which cassata may derive, refers to the bowl that is used to shape the cake.[8][9]
Variations
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2024) |
Unlike the round, traditional shape some cassata are made in the form of a rectangle, square, or box. The word box in Italian is cassa, although it is unlikely that the word cassata originated from this term.[citation needed]
Cassata catanese, as it is often prepared in the Sicilian province of Catania, is made similar to a pie, containing a top and bottom crust, filled with ricotta cheese, and baked in the oven.[citation needed]
Cassatella di sant'Agata is a similar dessert, but made in a smaller, personal-serving size, with a candied cherry on top, and often a specifically green-colored marzipan. It is typically made in Catania for the festival of Saint Agatha. The allusion to the female breast relates the specific torture Saint Agatha faced as a Catholic martyr.[10]
When a cassata is made, layers of gelato can be substituted for the layers of cheese, producing a dessert similar to an ice cream cake. The version of the recipe followed in Messina is less sweet than the one used in Palermo.[citation needed]
See also
Media related to Cassata at Wikimedia Commons
References
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