Pistachio Maritozzi

By OcadoLife
“These iconic glossy buns are a Roman invention, but I’ve given them a Sicilian spin with orange-scented dough and a pistachio and mascarpone filling,” says chef and writer Letitia Clark of her Pistachio Maritozzi.…
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Time and servings

Total time
Servings
Prep time
Cooking time

Ingredients

14 total
  • 7g sachet dried yeast
  • 1 tsp runny honey
  • 75ml milk, lukewarm
  • 30g plain flour
  • 250g strong bread flour
  • 1 level tsp salt
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 30ml light olive oil or sunflower oil, plus extra for greasing
  • 1 orange, finely zested
  • 1 medium egg, plus extra for brushing
  • 300ml mascarpone
  • 180g pistachio creme
  • ½ tbsp icing sugar, for dusting (optional)
  • 20g pistachios, crushed (optional)

Method

6 steps
  1. Step 1

    For the brioche buns, whisk the yeast, honey, warm milk and plain flour in a bowl and set aside for 10 mins or until small bubbles appear.

  2. Step 2

    Mix the bread flour, salt and sugar in a large mixing bowl and stir in the bubbly yeast mixture. In a separate bowl, whisk the oil, orange zest, egg and 30ml water, then add to the flour mixture and mix to a smooth-ish, slightly sticky dough – no kneading required. If it feels unmanageably sticky, add an extra sprinkle of flour. Cover and leave somewhere warm for 1 hr or until doubled in size.

  3. Step 3

    Lightly grease a board or work surface, tip out the dough and cut into 6 even pieces (weigh for accuracy, if you like – approx. 80g each). Lightly oil your hands and roll into balls. Pop them onto a tray, cover and leave for 90 mins or until doubled in size.

  4. Step 4

    Preheat the oven to 190°C/ 170°C fan/gas 5. Brush each ball with beaten egg, then bake for 12-15 mins until risen and golden. Leave to cool on a wire rack.

  5. Step 5

    Meanwhile, for the filling, mix the mascarpone with the pistachio creme to combine.

  6. Step 6

    Once the buns are cool, use a sharp knife to split them open, taking care not to cut all the way through. Fill generously with cream, using a palette knife to smooth and level; wipe off any excess with kitchen paper. Dust the buns with icing sugar and/or sprinkle with crushed pistachios, if you like. Enjoy the same day.