HOLY CANNOLI
‘MasterChef’ contestants attempt the classic Italian pastry
MASTERCHEF Wednesday, 8 p.m, Fox
EVERYONE in New York loves cannolis and you can get them at dozens of bakeries all over the five boroughs. And they are a whole lot easier to buy than to make from scratch, as “MasterChef” judge and renowned pastry chef Christina Tosi discdiscovered when she watched contestantstants try to get the right balance of flavors and texttextures in this week’s episode. She sharedshared hher observations with The Post.
HowHow diddid MasterChef decide that cannoli making should be part of the competition?
We lovlove a great dessert challenge, but at thisthi point, the home cooks know to expectexp a pie or a cupcake. We wanted to switch it up a little bit, testing skills with dough, viscosity, fillings, and finesse.i
What are the ingredients in a perfect cannoli?
One: a paper-thin dough that’s well seasoned but not overworked, evenly rolledr and fried to a golden brown. Two: a perfectly thick and deliciously understated filling. Never too sweet and definitely not runny. Most people think it’s similar to a frosting, but that is overkill. It’s much more of a mellow cheese filling. I like a mixture of ricotta, mascarpone, a splash of vanilla and a pinch of salt.
When did you make your first cannoli?
I was probably 6 or 8, with my dad’s family in Italy (we’re from the northern Alps). I thought they were the most delicious and curious dessert. Plus, that ricotta filling. . . !
Which is the hardest part to make — the shell or the cream filling?
Most think it’s the filling, but it’s actually the shell.
Which part of the process did the contestants find most challenging?
It was half-and-half. The shell eluded some, while the right flavor and viscosity in the fillings eluded others.
If you don’t feel like making your own cannolis, where do you buy them?
In Brooklyn, I go to Villabate Alba in Bensonhurst. No muss, no fuss. A cannoli straight from the source. In Manhattan, the NoMad Bar has Mama Guidara’s. Their cannolis are well-studied and insanely on point.