Stars are one of the classic symbols of Christmas, and we want to bring them to the table as well. The savory rosemary stars with buffalo ricotta are tasty and tempting little biscuits to serve as finger food appetizers, for buffets, or for a delightful aperitif. They are very easy to make and are ready in just over half an hour. The basic dough is that of scones but in a savory version; they contain no eggs, making them suitable even for those who cannot tolerate eggs. These delightful savory stars are decorated with a topping of pure buffalo ricotta to avoid overpowering its already intense flavor.
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Affordable
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 40 stars
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas, New Year's Eve
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 1/4 cup butter (very soft)
- 1/2 tsp instant yeast for savory preparations
- 1/2 tsp fine salt
- 7 oz buffalo ricotta
Tools
- 1 Cutter star-shaped, 2 inches
- 1 Piping bag + small star tip
Preparation
1) Sift the flour and pour it into a mixer. Add the finely chopped rosemary leaves and all other ingredients (except the ricotta) and mix until you get a soft yet compact dough. If the milk is not sufficient to moisten all the flour, you may need to add another scant teaspoon.
2) Roll out the dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch and cut it with a star cutter or any other shape you like. Re-knead the dough whenever necessary to form the stars, until it is used up.
3) Place the little stars on baking paper on a tray and bake them, in the middle of a preheated oven at 356°F, for about 15 minutes. Let them brown on the surface as well.
4) Pass the ricotta, already drained of its whey, through a sieve. Collect it in a bowl, and you will have a soft cream, perfect for decorations. Buffalo ricotta is already flavorful on its own, but you can enrich the frosting with grated table cheese and a pinch of ground pepper.
5) Remove the stars from the oven and let them cool completely before decorating them with the buffalo ricotta. Using a piping bag and a star nozzle, create the classic star decoration with the buffalo ricotta.
Extra idea. If buffalo ricotta is not preferred or if it is hard to find, it can be replaced with sheep ricotta or goat cheese.
