PASTA REALE

Pasta reale, or almond paste, is a type of sweet pastry that can also be used as a base for cakes and biscuits.
Particularly widespread in Puglia and Sicily, it is made from sugar, almond flour and finely chopped almonds, which are mixed together while hot, kneaded and then cooled.
Historically, this type of cake was served at royal banquets and was also regularly found on the tables of the upper classes.
In Salento, for many years, the royal pastry was made almost exclusively by the Benedictine nuns, guardians of the ancient recipe. The cake is a typical product of Latiano, Francavilla Fontana, Mesagne and San Donaci.