Scarpaccia Viareggina
Category: Desserts | Serves: 4
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| White zucchini | 250g |
| Eggs | 1 |
| Sugar | 85g |
| Butter | 25g |
| All-purpose flour | 75g |
| Baking powder | 4g |
| Whole milk | 65g |
| Vanilla bean pod | 1 |
| Fresh basil | 2 sprigs |
| Extra virgin olive oil | as needed |
| Butter (for greasing) | as needed |
| All-purpose flour (for dusting) | as needed |
Instructions
- Begin by preparing the zucchini. Wash them thoroughly, cut off the ends, and set them aside.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. While it melts, crack the egg into a bowl, add the sugar, and beat the mixture with a whisk until it becomes light and frothy.
- Once the butter has melted, pour it into the egg-sugar mixture, followed by the cold milk. Continue whisking to ensure the mixture is well combined.
- Split the vanilla bean pod lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Add the seeds to the batter, stirring them in evenly.
- Grate or finely chop the zucchini and add it to the mixture, stirring until it’s evenly distributed.
- Sift the all-purpose flour and baking powder into the batter and fold everything together until smooth.
- Prepare a 22 cm (9-inch) round cake pan by greasing it with butter and dusting it lightly with flour. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Tear the fresh basil leaves into smaller pieces by hand and sprinkle them evenly on top of the batter.
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F) if using a static (conventional) oven. Bake the scarpaccia for 15 minutes at this temperature.
- After 15 minutes, reduce the temperature to 180°C (355°F) and bake for an additional 45 minutes. If using a fan-assisted oven, bake at 180°C for 5 minutes, then lower the temperature to 160°C (320°F) and continue for 40 minutes.
- Once cooked, remove the scarpaccia from the oven and let it cool slightly before removing it from the pan.
- Allow the dessert to cool to a warm temperature before serving. It’s now ready to be enjoyed!
Enjoy your Scarpaccia Viareggina – a delightful Italian dessert, perfect for any occasion! The delicate flavor of zucchini combined with the aromatic touch of vanilla and basil creates an unforgettable treat.
