Mustazzola

Mustazzola is an ancient sweet from Sicily, especially beloved in the town of Scicli. This delicate pastry filled with a mixture of semolina, almonds, grated lemon or orange zest, cinnamon and other spices used to be made in three versions: one sweetened with honey, another one with mosto cotto (cooked juice made with pressed grapes) and the third one with carob syrup, which was a poor man's substitute for the expensive honey. Traditionally prepared for Christmas and the Feast of St. Joseph, mustazzola is nowadays rare and hard to find - even in Scicli, there are only a few pastry shops that still make this traditional sweet treat.