Easter time (or the run up to Easter anyway) is the perfect excuse for a TREAT.. so I decided to try out a typical Maltese sweet – Kwarezimal. Kwarezimal is a Maltese lenten sweet which Catholics are allowed to eat during the period.
I used the recipe from Pippa’s new book – Pippa’s Festa.
Almonds are the all important ingredient in this recipe of course. I bought the almonds from Smart but if anyone knows where to buy some genuine Italian/Sicilian almonds, please post a comment!
I started by baking 250g of Almonds (with skins) for about 15 mins (remember that if the packet they come in says they’re baked you don’t need to bake them again – heqemmm…. thank goodness I overstocked!!!)
In the meantime I prepared the mixture which consisted of rinds of a tangerine and a lemon, 250g flour, ilma zahar (orange blossom water), 250g sugar, grated nutmeg, mixed spice, 1 tbps cocoa, and water.
Incidentally, i used the rind of a large lemon BUT it was a bit too lemony so I suggest you use a small one instead AND I used caster sugar but the recipe actually calls for Demerara sugar .. so that’s a good excuse to try it again!
Once the almonds were ready I crushed them with a food processor and then mixed everything together. They look a bit like poop!
Next, I divided the mixture in 5 and molded them in sausage-like rolls and placed them in the oven. After about 15 mins they looked like this….
Finally, I heated 2 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of Ilma Zahar, brushed the kwarezimal with the mixture and finished it all off with some chopped up pistachios:
Just in case you’re wondering… I didn’t eat them all myself (you remember my first blog when I said I was on a diet, right?)!!!
If anyone has any suggestions/variations to this recipe, please let me know! I’ve already bought the ingredients to try them out again next weekend so please hurry!!!
i like that you compared them to poop! 😀 they still look yummy.
They really were yummy! cant wait to do some more this weekend..
I think they look fabulous!
Thanks 🙂
I buy my kwarezimal from Micallef Confectionery in St. Paul’s Street, Valletta. Even though I love baking, their traditional sweets are the best. I always make sure I go for Chriztmas Cake, mince pies, kwarezimal and hot cross buns.
For good quality almonds, the best suppliers would be either the spice shop at the corner between St. Paul’s Street and St. John’s Street or Albion in Merchants Street Valletta. Both shops are somewhat of an institution. I am not sure whether they actually have Sicilian almonds though.
Thanks for the tips! I just might go to buy one to check out how mine compare 🙂
It´s delicius, I love it !
Hi Liz,
I really like your blog… you have fantastic photos too that help make it one of my favourite.
I tried kwarezimal last year using Peter Dacoutros recipe and I have to say it gives excellent results. The ingredients are identical to yours except for the amounts and they’d be less sweet as the ratio for flour to sugar is 4:3 insead of 1:1. If you want i could write the recipe.
Yes please 🙂
Hi Liz,
sorry for the delay but here it is (on my blog)
http://sunflower71.wordpress.com/
cheers
Perfect! Will definitely try it out!!
Another thing Liz,
can i add you to my blogroll please.
thanks
Claudia
Of course 🙂
Liz:
You asked for places to buy almonds and stuff.
If you want really brilliant organic olive oils, jams, almonds, wines and other gourmet stuff like that, then I usually order from David & Isabelle Caruana Dingli, who bring over handpicked stuff from small producers in Sicily.
Look them up on Facebook: they have a page called “Buongustai si diventa”.
I’m a huge fan of their Sillitti olive oil. (I use the term “oil” liberally – it’s more like olive juice: you could drink the stuff) I’ve just placed an order for a stock of Sicilian almonds, but if you want to see what’s on offer you might consider emailing David.
M
Thanks for the tips! Will definitely check them out 🙂