Pistachios, quick, cheap and tasty

Recipe for Picromigdale - A Quick, Cheap, and Delicious Dessert

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 25 minutes
Total time: 40 minutes
Number of servings: 4-6

Picromigdale are a delicious and easy-to-make dessert, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth in record time. This dessert with an airy texture and enticing aroma will surely become your favorite. Here’s how to prepare them step by step.

Ingredients:
- 4 egg whites (at room temperature)
- 200 g granulated sugar
- 200 g ground almonds (or almond flour)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or almond extract for a more intense flavor)
- a pinch of salt
- 50 g dark chocolate (optional, for decoration)

Step 1: Preparing the ingredients
Make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature, especially the egg whites, to achieve a more stable foam. Almonds can be bought pre-ground, but if you want a fresh taste, you can grind them at home.

Step 2: Beating the egg whites
In a clean bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until foamy. Then, while continuing to mix, gradually add the sugar in a rain-like fashion. It’s important to add the sugar slowly to allow the egg whites to absorb it, resulting in a firm and glossy foam. Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form, which will give the picromigdale a perfect texture.

Step 3: Adding the almonds and flavors
Once you have a firm foam, add the ground almonds and vanilla extract. Use a spatula to gently fold in the ingredients, being careful not to deflate the foam. This step is crucial for maintaining the airiness of the mixture.

Step 4: Baking
Preheat the oven to 160°C and prepare a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Using a spoon, form small mounds of the mixture, leaving enough space between them as they will spread while baking. Bake the picromigdale for about 25 minutes or until they are golden and crispy on the outside. A useful trick is to leave the oven door ajar for the last 5 minutes of baking to achieve a crunchier crust.

Step 5: Cooling and serving
After removing them from the oven, let the picromigdale cool completely on a wire rack. They are excellent served plain, but you can add a touch of flavor by melting dark chocolate and decorating each picromigdale with a drizzle of melted chocolate.

Variations:
For a more exotic version, you can add 50 g of ground walnuts or 30 g of cocoa to the mixture. Also, for an intense flavor, try using roasted almonds or even adding a bit of cinnamon.

These picromigdale are perfect as a quick dessert to impress your guests or simply to indulge yourself. Try pairing them with a scoop of ice cream or a cup of coffee for a delicious combination. Enjoy every bite!