Sugar puppet, "Pupu di zuccaru", pupacena
Product included in the national list of traditional agri-food products (PAT)
Typology PAT : Fresh pasta and products from the bakery, biscuits, pastry and confectionery
Production area: All of Sicily.
Technical data sheet of the traditional agri-food product (PAT)
Area of production: All of Sicily.
Brief description of the product: Colorful sugar puppets.
Description of the processing, conservation and maturing methods: Sugar, water, glucose, lemon juice, vegetable colors of various grades and almond oil. In a saucepan, pour the sugar and dissolve it with the water, put on the stove and bring to a boil, stirring.
Add the lemon juice and glucose, continuing to mix. Check the cooking point with a wooden stick, dipping it into the mixture, if a small bubble will form on the tip, then continue cooking, if instead the bubble will be larger, quickly remove the pot from the heat and immerse it in cold water, to stop cooking. Allow the preparation to cool; meanwhile, grease some small shapes depicting puppets with almond oil, fill them with the mixture and let them harden in the oven.
Remove from the oven and decorate with vegetable colors.
Specific materials and equipment used for preparation and conditioning: Equipment suitable for the processing of pastry products.
Description of the processing, storage and maturing rooms: Pastry workshops and domestic environments.
Elements proving that the methodologies have been practiced in a homogeneous way and according to traditional rules for a period of not less than 25 years: Ancient recipe imported to Sicily by some sailors who exchanged with the government of the Serenissima. The pupacena is related to the feast of the dead.
Source Pat Cards: Sicily Region
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