A delightful recipe that evokes the flavors of the past: the Mantuan Bussolano, known in dialect as “bisulan“, shaped either like a ring cake or a rectangle. Today it is presented in a more modern version, taller and softer than the traditional recipe. In the classic version, this ancient cake is, in fact, dry and characterized by a rather firm texture because yeast was not used. For this reason, it was often enjoyed paired with a glass of wine, sometimes dipped to make it softer and more pleasant to the palate. Below, let’s see together what you need to prepare the Bussolano, a typical Mantuan cake:
Other recipes of traditional sweets :
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Budget-friendly
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 10
- Cooking methods: Oven
Ingredients
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour (00 flour)
- 1 1/4 cups potato starch
- 3 eggs
- 10 1/2 tbsp butter (or lard)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- as needed milk
- 3 tsp baking powder
- a pinch of salt
- grated zest of one lemon
- as needed pearl sugar (for decoration)
Steps
Work the softened butter with the sugar in a large bowl until you obtain a creamy mixture. Add the egg yolks one at a time, continuing to mix well so the ingredients are fully incorporated.
Sift the flour and potato starch together with the baking powder and add them gradually to the mixture. Also add a pinch of salt, the grated lemon zest and about 1 1/3 tablespoons (20 ml) of milk (or just enough to bind everything).
Whip the egg whites to stiff peaks and gently fold them into the batter. Place the resulting mixture into a ring pan (tube pan) 22–24 cm (about 8 2/3–9 1/2 in) in diameter (or a 26 cm [about 10 1/4 in] pan if you prefer a lower cake).
Sprinkle the surface with pearl sugar and bake the cake in a preheated oven at 356°F for about 35 minutes, or until evenly golden.
Once removed from the oven, let it cool completely. The Mantuan Bussolano is ready to be served with a glass of wine, or accompanied by custard or jam.
Bon appétit and… see you for the next recipe!
If you try this recipe, be sure to tag #ipasticcinidinina on Instagram so I can see it and share it with the community.
