Rich, dark flavours, creamy texture and to put it quite simply, absolutely mouth-watering – it isn’t hard to understand why tiramisu is Italy’s most popular after-dinner indulgence.
What is tiramisu?
The word ‘tiramisu’ literally means ‘a pick me up’ in Italian and with all that caffeine, it is not surprising why! The Italians actually usually choose a fresh fruit dish for after their main meals, as dessert is reserved for special occasions. Which is why when they do prepare dessert, they are lavish and decadent. Tiramisu is a rich, layered dessert made with ladyfinger biscuits, espresso, mascarpone cheese, eggs, sugar, Marsala wine, rum, and cocoa powder. Each layer offers a distinct flavour and when those layers are tasted together, it causes a taste explosion in your mouth! In fact, the term tiramisu is so famous, that the Italian Academy of Crusca has certified that it is now officially present at international level as ‘gastronomic italianism’ in 23 different languages!
History of tiramisu
Because tiramisu is such a loved dish, a few areas of Italy claim to have originally created it. However, it was born in Treviso in 1970 by cook, Roberto Loli Linguanotto. He had just come back from Germany where he had discovered the delights of soft desserts and this has reminded him of his childhood when his grandmother would make ‘sbatudin’ – a poor person’s dessert made of egg yolk beaten with sugar. He started working in the kitchen of Beccherie, a trattoria located in Piazza Ancilotto in the middle of Treviso and there, he added mascarpone cheese to the much-loved sbatudin, creating tiramisu.
How tiramisu is made
These days, tiramisu is usually made with liqueur and egg whites, however, the original recipe does not call for those ingredients. Ladyfinger biscuits, egg yolks, sugar, espresso, mascarpone and cocoa powder are the ingredients needed. The egg yolks and sugar and beat together before the mascarpone is added. Soak with Ladyfinger biscuits in hot espresso, creating alternate layers with the soaked biscuits and the cheese. If you do wish to use a liqueur, use Marsala. Once done, the top layer is sprinkled with a generous dose with cocoa powder. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.
Where to find tiramisu in Singapore
There are lots of restaurants and cafes in Singapore that serve creamy, decadent tiramisu. Check out The Tiramisu Hero. They serve this famous Italian dessert at a moderate price and are rated highly on foodpanda.
