67 
0 
Pasticciotto is a typical Salento dessert that dates back to the 18th century. This delicious sweet is a pastry made of shortcrust pastry and filled with a custard cream. The Pasticciotto is a beloved dessert that is an integral part of Salento’s culinary traditions, and it’s widespread across the peninsula, especially in Lecce, the capital city of Salento.
The story of the Pasticciotto is quite unusual, as its invention was a matter of chance. It all happened in the late 18th century when Lecce was part of the Kingdom of Naples. A baker named Andrea Ascalone lived and worked in the historic district of San Pietro in Lecce. One day, while baking some bread, he realized that he had some leftover dough and decided to use it to make a small pastry by filling it with some custard made with eggs, sugar, and milk.
The result was a delicious dessert that he called “pasticino” (little pastry). Ascalone started making and selling these pastries, and they became so popular that he decided to rename them Pasticciotto, which means “little mess” in Italian.
The Pasticciotto soon became a hit in Lecce and the surrounding areas. The villagers loved this new sweet, and it began to spread throughout the peninsula, eventually showing up on the menus of local restaurants. Pasticciotto became so popular that other pastry chefs started to invent new versions of it, with different fillings such as chocolate, almond cream, pistachio, and fruit.
Today, the most traditional version of Pasticciotto is still made with shortcrust pastry and filled with a custard made from eggs, sugar, and milk. The dough has a crumbly texture, and it’s made with flour, sugar, and butter. The custard is cooked and chilled before filling the pastry, which is then baked in the oven till golden brown.
The real secret of Pasticciotto’s success is its simplicity. The pastry is easy to make, and it can be eaten at any time of the day. It’s ideal for breakfast, as a mid-morning snack, or even as an after-dinner dessert.
Pasticciotto is not just a delicious dessert; it’s also an emblem of Salento’s culinary culture. Every town and every village in Salento has its own recipe for making Pasticciotto, and it’s a matter of pride for locals to taste and compare the different variations.
The Pasticciotto has also become an attraction for tourists visiting Salento. Many visitors from around the world come to Lecce to taste this unique dessert and to learn about its history and tradition. In Lecce, several pastry shops sell Pasticciotto throughout the year, and during the summer season, it’s also possible to find it in street food stalls and cafes.
In conclusion, the Pasticciotto is much more than a simple dessert, and it’s a symbol of Salento’s rich culture and traditions. Its story is a reminder that sometimes the most fantastic things in life happen by chance, and it’s up to us to keep them alive and make them flourish. And for those who are looking to try something new and delicious, Pasticciotto is a must-try sweet.
0 | 
0