Tiramisu (From Pasta & Other Things)
Photo: Tony
Ingredients
Preparation
About
Tiramisu is one of the most popular Italian cakes. It is made of biscuits (usually Savoiardi, known as Lady Fingers in the US) dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks and mascarpone, and flavored with liquor and cocoa. The recipe has been adapted into many varieties of puddings, cakes and other desserts.
The history for this dessert is sketchy at best since so many people claim they invented it. Some researchers have traced it’s origin to the early 1960’s in a town in Tuscany called Treviso, but there are also claims that go back to the 17thcentury, once again involving the Medici family. There is even an account of the recipe's invention at an Italian brothel (to provide an energy boost to exhausted clients). Tiramisu means literally "pull me up" (pick me up) in Italian.