Q Can you get the recipe for the anise cookies at Trattoria Romana in Boca Raton? — Joanna Boritzer, Highland Beach
A. This roundabout request was forwarded to me from Sun Sentinel reporter Dan Sweeney, a testimony to staffers who always go the extra mile for their readers. Thanks Dan! The best way to reach me for recipe requests is .
Culturally rich Italians are known for their deep love of family and with that comes the gathering and sharing of food and time together at the table. Traditions and recipes are handed down from one generation to the next, bound by regional roots and a preservation of heritage. So I was happy when chef and owner Arturo Gismondi, of Trattoria Romana (499 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, 561-393-6715, trattoriaromanabocaraton.com) agreed to share his family’s Ciambelline cookie recipe.
Like many of the recipes at Trattoria Romana, the Ciambelline is a recipe that Arturo’s mother Gabriella taught him to make. This recipe is ideal for low sugar diets or taste buds that avoid cloying sweet baked goods.
Gismondi’s family has roots in Sora, Italy, a town known for Ciambelline. Trattoria Romana offers the complimentary cookies to their guests after dinner. The licorice flavored, crisp treat pairs well with a demitasse of espresso or is used to soak up the last bit of wine from dinner. The cookies are delicious any time of day and available for purchase by the pound.
Congratulations to Chef Gismondi and his staff as they enter their 27th year in business. If your appetite craves French, German or seafood specialties, visit Gismondi’s other Boca favorites La Nouvelle Maison (lnmbocaraton.com), Biergarten (biergartenboca.com) or Luff’s Fish House, (luffsfishhouse.com). Still deciding on Valentine’s Day reservations? At the time of this writing, there were seats available for Trattoria Romana’s three-course, prix fixe menu. Call the restaurant or check the website for reservations and details.
Trattoria Romana’s Ciambelline
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup vegetable oil or olive oil
1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more for dipping
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
Dash of vanilla extract
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside. Using a medium bowl, combine white wine, oil, sugar, anise seed, baking soda, salt and vanilla, mixing with a fork until well combined. Gradually add flour, mixing with a fork until it all comes together.
2. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead gently, approximately 10 times. The dough should be soft, be sure not to overwork the dough. If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour.
3. Cut off a little bit of dough at a time, roll into a small chubby rope about a half-inch in diameter and 5-inches long and bring the ends together to form a circle. Dip the circles in sugar and place on prepared baking sheet.
4. Bake cookies until golden brown, approximately 18-22 minutes. Let the cookies cool completely before serving.
Makes about 25-30 cookies
Nutrition informatino per cookie (analysis based on 30 cookies): 32 calories, 53% calories from fat, 2g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 4g carbohydrates, 2g total sugar, 2g added sugar, 0g protein, 8mg sodium, 0g fiber
