Day-

Filling base
500 g (1 lb 2 oz) buffalo
(or full-fat cows’) ricotta
1 × small batch Cold-start thick
custard (page 247), chilled
Filling additions
(also see Adaptrix)
60 g (2 oz) good dark chocolate
(70% cocoa)
60 g (2 oz) blanched slivered
pistachios, slightly chopped
finely grated zest of 1 lemon
To finish
60 g (2 oz) blanched slivered
pistachios, slightly chopped
M ake the Cold-start thick custard to chill overnight too.


The next day, let’s roll and fry! Have at least four 14 cm × 2.5 cm (5½  in
× 1 in) diameter metal cannoli tubes ready to go. Place the frying oil
in a 25 cm (10 in) wide pot over a low–medium heat. Bring the oil up
to 180°C (360°F) nice and slowly, so the oil doesn’t overheat and get
scarily smoky. If you own a benchtop fryer, set the thermostat to 180°C
(360°F).


Beside the fryer, set up a cooling rack over a shallow tray to drain the fried
cannoli. Have a large pair of tongs handy to safely manoeuvre the cannoli
in and out of the fryer, and a dry tea towel (dish towel) in front of the fryer
ready to help you remove the metal tubes mid-fry.

Hand whisk the reserved egg white and set aside. On a well-dusted
work surface, roll the dough out to a 40 cm (15¾ in) circle-ish shape.


Regularly and gently lift the dough and dust underneath to prevent
sticking. When you are at target, cut a single circle with an 11 cm
(4¼  in) cutter.**


Keeping the dough from sticking means your circles won’t shrink back
when  cut.

If your metal tubes are shorter, make your circle smaller so the raw dough
doesn’t flop over the tube ends. If a circle tears, just smoosh it together–it
will be delightfully extra crunchy!

If your round cutter is only 10 cm (4 in) diameter, roll your sheet a little
thicker, stamp your circle, then roll them out to 11 cm (4¼ in). If you don’t
have any round cutters, cut the dough into 11 cm (4¼ in) squares and wrap
them diagonally on the cannoli tube.

Gently tug the dough circle into an oval shape. Place a cannoli tube
lengthways across the long section on the centre of the oval and
pull the bottom half up loosely over the tube. Roll the dough right
around the tube and just at the end, dip a finger in the egg white
and smear it on the dough flap. Press the dough flap firmly to fuse
with the dough beneath. Smear a little egg white on top of the seal
as extra guarantee. Be super careful not to get any egg white on the
metal tube or the dough and tube will be welded together and make
a (nerve) shattering mess to remove!

Test the fry: place the dough-loaded cannolo tube in the oil and
gently move it around to avoid a dark strip forming on the dough.


After around 2–3  minutes, when the cannolo is a honey colour, clasp
the middle of the cannoli with your tongs and tilt the tube to drain the
hot oil back into the pot. Place the tea towel (dish towel) around the
cannolo shell and gently twist and pull the shell o ff the tube.
continued