Pardule

Pardule (or "Pardulas"to pluralize) is a traditional Sardinian sweet; something like a tiny cheesecake but light and airy; they taste of saffron, lemon and orange. They are not hard to make but will take some practice to perfect.

I was taught how to make Pardule while I was doing a project in Sardinia which incorporated traditional Sardinian Sweets and art installation: http://futurefantasmi.weebly.com/

Pardule is my favorite of all of the sweets I learned because of their delicate flavors which are not overwhelmed by sweetness.

The ingredients you will need to make Pardulas are:

·         1 Kilogram of Ricotta
·         ½ Kilogram of flour
·         300 Grams of sugar
·         1 Gram of saffron
·         16 Grams of baking powder
·         32 Grams of vanilla flavor
·         3 Eggs
·         1 Tablespoon of butter
·         Zest of 1 lemon
·         Zest of 2 Oranges
·         Liquor to taste (about 6 tablespoons) – Aquavita or Brandy

*2 days before cooking, strain the liquid out of the ricotta by placing it in a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and then placing a small plate on the ricotta with a weight on it. Discard the liquid which runs out of the ricotta. 
**Ricotta made from sheep's milk is best but you can use Ricotta from a cow.

Step 1: Make the Pastry:

Prepare the pastry dough:

1. Heat 1c of water and 2tbsp of sugar over medium heat until the water is just warmer than skin temperature.
2. Place 350g of flour in a greased bowl with as much of the sugar/water required in order to gather the dough into one mass. Work until the dough just comes together.
3. Add 1tbsp of egg white, aquavita or brandy and butter.
4. Work the dough by rolling and streaching.
5. Place in a bag to rest while you prepare the filling.

Step 2: Make the Filling:

1. Add saffron to the 3tbsp of your liquor
2. Place ricotta in a mixing bowl with 150g of flour, sugar, 1 egg + 1 egg yolk, zest, vanilla and baking powder.
3. Combine ingredients by hand until smooth and uniform in texture.
4. Add the saffron/liquor to the mixture and combine until smooth.

Step 3: Roll Out Your Dough:

1. Take a tennis-ball size piece of the pastry dough and roll until it is 2mm thick and then fold lengthwise.
2. Repeat this 5x with the same piece of dough and then cut circles out of the dough approximately 8cm in diameter and 1.5-2mm thick.
3. Repeat this process until all the dough is used. Make sure to place your dough on parchment paper or another non-stick surface while you proceed to the next step.

Step 4: Roll Up Some Balls:

Now, to prepare the filling for your Pardulas... 

1. Rub some of the liquor over your hands and take a golf-ball sized piece of your filling and roll it into a ball.
2. Place that ball into the center of one of the pastry circles.
3. Fold the sides of the pastry around the filling ball, crimping at regular intervals.
4. Place the uncooked-Pardule on a baking sheet (greased, with parchment paper or a silicone mat) and repeat #1-#4 until you have used all of the filling.
5. Brush the filling with a beaten egg yolk mixed with about 1tbsp of water.

Step 5: Bake!

1. Bake at 180°c/355°f for about 30 minutes or until the filling starts to mushroom-top over the pastry of the pardule and the tops turn golden brown and shiny. You may add more egg wash after the first 15 minutes in the oven if the Pardulas are not as glossy as you would like.

Step 6: Buon Appetito!

Enjoy!

If you want to try other traditional Sardinian recipes, visit this site: http://futurefantasmi.weebly.com/

Comments

[smirnoff04]

Have you ever tried speeding up the ricotta draining procedure? Like putting it in some cheesecloth and wringing out the moisture?

I only ask because I want to make these right away. :D

[Justin Tyler Tate]

I like your enthusiasm.

Wringing it out will help but I think letting the water be pressed out for some time will definitely still be necessary for some time.

Good Luck!

[zuMikkebe]

Nice to see one my favorite "durci" on Instructables, and they looks fabolous on your photo, seems you had a good teacher, saludi et trigu

[Justin Tyler Tate]

Thank you. What are your other favorites? I was thinking to make some more...maybe Pane Saba, Amaretti or Bucconettos next. I had excellent and practiced teachers.

[zuMikkebe]

I like a lot any sweet containing saba and spices, so I can't skip to taste the fatt'e cottu (a heavier and wet version of pan'e saba made in Quartu), pistiddus, tiliccas, pabassinas 'e saba, mustatzolus; I like the almonds too so I like gueffus, candelaus, pastissus 'e mindula, marigosus, during carnival time zippulas and ravioli dolci (filled with ricotta, zest of lemon and cinnamon); but if have to suggest a recipe for Instructable my thumb up is for cardinali, a nice sardinian "cupcake"

[fantine]

Yum, yum! But I'm confused. I can only account for three of the five eggs. Where are the other two added? And do you add the saffron in liqueur at the same time as the vanilla etc.?

[Justin Tyler Tate]

Sorry! 2 extra eggs in case you need extra egg wash. I will just reduce it on the recipe. And add the saffron to the liquor, do the other stuff and combine, and then add the saffron and the liquor to the rest. I will fix it on the Instructable. Thanks!

[marcellahella]

They look soo good! I never try them before, I want to make them

[Justin Tyler Tate]

You should! I think these are very special sweets with a very uncommon flavor.

[praivio]

Tosi hyvää!

[Justin Tyler Tate]

Tiedät sen!