Ingredients for 8/10 people:500 g Brutti ma Buoni biscuits200 g Viallella Fondente150 g candied orange peel50 g hazelnuts2 tbsp Vin Santo del Chianti D.O.C.2 lemon1 vanilla pod
First of all chop the Brutti ma Buoni fairly finely. In a bowl, or in the food processor, mix the chopped biscuits thoroughly with the Viallella (which you have previously warmed a little in a bain-marie), the candied orange cut into small pieces, the vanilla pulp (removed from the pod after cutting it open lengthwise) and the grated lemon zest. Then pour in the Vin Santo and continue mixing.
When the mixture is well blended, flatten it and spread it out on the work surface with your hands, on top of it sprinkle the whole hazelnuts which, when it is finished, will become the “fat” of the sweet salami. Mix well again to incorporate the hazelnuts, then use your hands to give it the typical shape and roll it in greaseproof paper, wrapped tightly round it and folded at the two ends. Tie it up tight “come un salame” (= like a salami)1 with kitchen string, and leave it in the fridge for at least 3 hours.
After this time the salami is ready to be sliced and ....eaten by chocoholics both young and old!
It keeps very well, for a good week, in the fridge: take it out 10 or 15 minutes before serving.
A suggestion: if you prepare a larger quantity of the “chocolaty paste”.... you can divide it into pieces and then, one at a time, with the help of a spoon, dip them into warm, melted chocolate (either milk or plain, according to your taste). It will only take 10 minutes in the fridge and you’ll have mouth-watering treats to offer to guests or use as gifts. Wrap your chocolate delicacies up like “sweets” with gold, or coloured, food-quality paper, with ordinary baking paper or .....
And, to conclude, a curiosity: this recipe is very common in the towns and villages near Lake Trasimeno, between Umbria and Tuscany, and is actually typical of the lake’s largest island, Isola Maggiore. In that area it is prepared in winter, especially during the Christmas season.
1 “Tied up like a salami” is a common saying used, in this part of the world, to make fun of someone in certain situations or clothing.