The Neapolitan Pastiera is a sweet pastry filled with cooked wheat, ricotta cheese, eggs, and flavoured with orange flower water. As per tradition, a mix of spices is then added to the filling: cinnamon, vanillin, wildflower and candied fruits.
The pastiera recipe varies a lot: it is reinterpreted from family to family. For example, some use chopped wheat, some others add custard and some don’t put any candied fruits. A famous version is pastry chef Mario Scaturchio’s: he uses shortcrust pastry which is defined as “thin”, to differentiate it from the normal shortcrust pastry or the one used for puff pastries.
Still, whatever version you may try, the Neapolitan pastiera will conquer you with its unique flavor and aroma!