It is undeniable that tiramisu is the crown jewel of the classic Italian dessert menu. Over the years, the dessert has become a staple in Italian dining establishments, from busy cafes in Rome, Italy to fine dining Italian restaurants in Galle, Sri Lanka, like at AQUA Forte. Although tiramisu is a classic, it is by no means a traditional dessert like cannoli or gelato. Instead, tiramisu is a relatively new invention that was created in the 1960s or 1970s!
While the invention of tiramisu may not have originated from the time of the Medicis (as some stories recount), this dessert has certainly taken the world by storm. If you’re thinking of making tiramisu at home, here are a few tiramisu tips from our Head Chef Roberto to keep in mind when creating this delicious dessert.
When following an authentic Italian tiramisu recipe, or any recipe for that matter, you will find out that having good-quality ingredients is paramount. Tiramisu (which translates to ‘pick me up’) is prepared by using some fairly basic ingredients and this is because the dessert is a reflection of the everyday flavours of the Treviso region.
However, the combination of eggs, creamy mascarpone, espresso, a liquor (optional), ladyfinger cookies and cacao powder is anything but basic. Here are a few things to keep in mind when making homemade tiramisu from scratch.
Since tiramisu is meant to be a ‘pick me up’, it is no surprise that strong coffee is an important component. We make our tiramisu with freshly brewed espresso for an extra kick. Along with the coffee, you can also include liquor, although this is not mandatory in the original recipe. If you choose to add it, Marsala, a sweet wine, is the most common choice, but you can be creative with your liquor selection. Some swap the Marsala with brandy or even Tia Maria.
Tiramisu begins with a layer of savoiardi (ladyfingers) biscuits that are soaked in the espresso and liquor mixture. By its nature, savoiardi biscuits are quite dry and brittle but this an important quality to have as it better absorbs the moisture and flavour from the dipping mixture. For the optimal texture, don’t soak the biscuits for too long, as they will become too soggy and lead to a dense tiramisu.
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Everyone has a different way of preparing the cream. For an easy homemade tiramisu, some recipes wrongly suggest whipping cream and mascarpone cheese together, but that may alter the flavour of the desert, in fact cream is not one of the ingredients in the original recipe. To get the perfect luxurious creamy consistency you must whip mascarpone cream cheese with egg yolks and egg whites and this will give a deliciously decadent dessert.
Finally, finish your tiramisu with a fine coating of cacao powder. Another option is finely grating some dark chocolate over the tiramisu, but the bitter cacao powder beautifully complements the coffee-soaked biscuits and cuts through the richness of the custard. Once you have completed layering the dessert it’s time to chill it! Refrigerate your tiramisu for six hours before serving which will make it easier to get the perfect scoop.
What makes tiramisu such a magical dessert is that its ingredients aren’t particularly special, but the sum of it is extraordinary. Nowadays there are different renditions of this rich dessert, but for us, nothing can compare to the ‘traditional’ Italian recipe for tiramisu.
To make the best tiramisu, having each element is essential. However, if you are unable to source the different ingredients, try AQUA Forte’s Tiramisù. Prepared using premium-quality ingredients imported from Italy, you can now indulge in an authentic Italian tiramisu from the comforts of your own home thanks to our delivery service.
We deliver within 10km of Galle Fort from 12 PM to 8 PM. To order call or Whatsapp us on +94 91 223 1725
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