Chocolate Walnut and Cinnamon Pasta Pie
The recipe for this chocolate, walnut, and cinnamon pasta pie comes from an ancient and precious Umbrian Christmas recipe from my maternal grandmother, which I cherish and prepare during the Christmas period, usually by Epiphany, but it is delicious to make throughout the entire winter. It’s an energetic comfort food (due to the abundance of chopped walnuts and chocolate) that somewhat reminds me of the taste of strudel and will reconnect you with the world.
It’s an ancient sweet typical of the Umbrian peasant tradition, an unusual and strange recipe that many do not know. In other regions (e.g., Viterbo and Tuscia), this pasta and walnut pie is also called Maccheroni with walnuts, and every family has its own recipe, with its variations.
This pasta and walnut pie is an easy dessert, rich and simple at the same time, which always amazes my guests and always achieves great success.
The flavor combinations are unusual, but I assure you this dessert is delicious…..try it to believe it!!
Important: this irresistible dessert should be prepared at least a day or two before serving, because the flavors need to blend well.
You might be interested in:
- Baked Donuts with Cinnamon and Divine Maple Syrup Glaze. Easy and Quick Recipe.
- Fried Toma with Sugar and Cinnamon. Super Easy and Quick Dessert (only 3 ingredients).
- Karen Blixen's Apple Cinnamon Cake. Original Recipe.
- Funfetti Muffins with Butter and Cinnamon
- French Toast with Cinnamon and Maple Syrup
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 1 Day
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 5 People
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian Regional
- Region: Umbria
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter, Christmas
Ingredients for the Chocolate Walnut and Cinnamon Pasta Pie
- 1.1 lbs paccheri (smooth, I use Garofalo Schiaffoni)
- 1.1 lbs walnut kernels (finely chopped)
- 5 oz granulated sugar
- 1.8 oz dark chocolate 50%
- 2 packets cinnamon
- 0.5 oz breadcrumbs
- 0.07 oz nutmeg
- 1 lemon zest (grated)
- 0.03 oz fine salt (for the walnut mix)
- 1 oz coarse salt (for cooking the pasta)
Tools for the Chocolate Walnut and Cinnamon Pasta Pie
- Bowls of various sizes
- Food Processor electric chopper and vegetable cutter (Kenwood Multi pro go)
Steps for the Chocolate Walnut and Cinnamon Pasta Pie
In a food processor, finely chop the walnuts and dark chocolate (turning it into a powder)
Then, season the walnuts and chocolate with: cinnamon, breadcrumbs, grated lemon zest, sugar, 0.03 oz fine salt, and nutmeg and refrigerate to flavor for at least two hours.
Meanwhile, take a large pot, fill it with water (about 6 liters), add a drizzle of oil and a pinch of coarse salt (about 1 oz) bring the water to a boil and add the pasta, it should cook for about 40-45 minutes, then drain.
The pasta must cook a lot, almost falling apart, and it should NOT be al dente.
Once the cooking time is up, drain the pasta and season it while still hot with 7 oz of walnut mixture (taken from the total).
It’s important to season the pasta with the walnut mixture almost immediately (when it’s still hot and moist). Save the remaining walnut mixture for assembling the pie.
Take a rectangular baking dish 8.66×11.81 inches, with a height of 2 inches, spread some remaining walnut mixture on the bottom of the dish, make a layer of seasoned pasta, then a layer of mixture, try to make at least three layers and finish with only walnut mixture on top (the pasta should be evenly covered with the walnut mixture).
Press the pie with your hands compacting it and then refrigerate it (preferably overnight) to allow the flavors to blend well.
Serve the dessert at room temperature. Store it in the refrigerator
Notes and Tips
Every family keeps their own recipe with variations, for example, I’ve read that some also add a liqueur: rosolio, alchermes, etc., BUT I prefer the predominant flavors of this pie to be those of the walnuts (a full 14 oz) and the cinnamon. In fact, even the cocoa percentage of the dark chocolate should be 50%, dark chocolate with 75/85% cacao is not suitable because it would overpower the walnut flavor.
Shopping Tips!!!
For my kitchen, the Kenwood MultiPro Go Robot is extremely useful, small, compact, and not cumbersome, yet powerful and multifunctional: chops, slices, grates, purées, and even prepares dough for pizza or pastry. With the Express Serve 360° system, you can grate and chop ingredients directly into a dish or external bowl, reducing washing needs. A truly excellent and useful product.
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