Catholic Recipe: Cavazune (St. Joseph's Pants Cookies)

Also Called: St. Joseph's Pants (Filled Cookies); San Guiseppe Pants

The Joseph Altar is made up of many foods, all of them meatless. This recipe is a sweet version of a calzone. Chickpeas play a large role in the celebration of St. Joseph's Day in Sicily, and this time they are the base for the cavazune filling. Cavazune is translated to "pants," making these fried filled cookies "St. Joseph's Pants. Cavazunes start with a small thin circle of Italian pastry dough, filled with sweetened ceci or chickpea filling, folded in half to seal and then fried in oil until golden in color. These are time consuming.

DIRECTIONS

Beat eggs, salt sugar, oil, and vanilla together and work in the flour and water alternately keeping the mixture smooth until dough is stiff. Work more flour into the dough on a baking board, then wrap in waxed paper and put aside to chill while you make the filling.

Cook chick peas and its liquid 20 minutes. Chop the nuts finely; mix with remaining ingredients. Drain peas, work through a grinder (or use a processor or blender) until smooth. Then mix with filling.

Divide the dough into quarters and roll out one quarter at a time, until very, very thin. Cut dough in 3" squares.

Place a teaspoonful of filling on squares, brush edges with beaten egg and water. Fold into rectangles, pressing edges with fork to seal.

Heat oil to 350° F, fry cavezunes 2 to 2 1/2 minutes or until golden. Drain. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar.