Kitchen Recipe Collection
Italian Sbrisolona
A rustic, crunchy, crumbly almond tart from Mantua (Lombardy). Made with a mix of wheat and cornmeal, it is designed to be broken into uneven chunks with your hands.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 55 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- italian
Ingredients
Scaled for 8 servings
- all-purpose flour
- fine cornmeal (fioretto)
- whole almonds (unblanched, roughly chopped)
- sugar
- cold butter (diced)
- egg yolks
- lemon zest
- vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Equipment
- Tart pan or baking sheet
- Large bowl
Instructions
- 1
Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, fine cornmeal, sugar, salt, and lemon zest.
- 2
Add Almonds
Stir in the roughly chopped whole almonds, reserving a few whole ones for the top.
- 3
Cut in Butter
Add the cold, diced butter. Use your fingertips to quickly rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse, uneven breadcrumbs.
- 4
Add Yolks
Add the egg yolks and vanilla. Toss with your hands. DO NOT knead this into a smooth dough. It must remain a bowl of loose, buttery crumbs.
- 5
Prepare Pan
Butter and flour a tart pan or springform pan.
- 6
Scatter Crumb
Let the loose crumb mixture fall into the pan in an even layer. Do NOT press it down or pack it tightly.
- 7
Top
Scatter the reserved whole almonds over the top.
- 8
Bake
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 40 minutes, until the top is deep golden brown and the butter is bubbling.
- 9
Cool
Let it cool completely in the pan. It will harden significantly as the butter sets.
- 10
Serve
Do not attempt to slice it with a knife. Serve by placing it in the center of the table and letting guests break off jagged chunks with their hands.
Cooking Tips
- The name comes from the word 'briciola' (crumb). The entire goal is to prevent a cohesive dough from forming.
- The cornmeal is essential for the rustic, gritty crunch that defines the dish.
Variations
- With Grappa: A splash of grappa is often added to the dough for extra aroma.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- Historically a peasant dish that eventually made its way into the noble courts of the Gonzaga family.
Nutrition Estimate
380 calories · 5g protein · 42g carbs · 22g fat · 2g fiber per serving
