The provencal oil pump

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The tradition of 13 Christmas desserts in Provence, in France, dates back to the Middle Ages and has evolved over the centuries. It consists of serving 13 different desserts after Christmas Eve meal, symbolizing the 12 apostles and jesus. The 13 desserts are meant to represent abundance and prosperity for the coming year.

The oil pump, also known as gibacier or gibassier, is one of the traditional desserts in this set of 13 desserts. It comes from the Provence region and is a kind of cake flavored with orange blossom and lemon., prepared with olive oil from Provence. Following the tradition, it is recommended to break the pump as Christ broke the bread rather than to cut it. The oil pump is often sold in bakeries in Provence during the Christmas period and is accompanied by small sweet biscuits.

The other traditional desserts that are part of 13 Christmas desserts in Provence include beggars (small biscuits made with dried fruits and chocolate), and nougat (a mixture of honey, sugar and nuts), rowanberries (frozen fruit) and raisins. These desserts are often laid out on a table or on a tray and served at the end of a Christmas Eve meal..

Provencal oil pump recipe

Here is a rewrite of the Provence oil pump recipe:

  1. In a bowl, mix 20 g baker's yeast, 50 g of flour and a pinch of salt with a little warm water. Leave the mixture to rest for 2 hours in a warm place.
  2. In a salad bowl, mix 250 g of flour, 75 ml d’olive oil of Provence, 75 grams of sugar, an egg, a pinch of salt, a tablespoon of orange blossom, an orange zest and a quarter glass of water.
  3. Incorporate the yeast-based sourdough into the preparation. Let the dough rest in a ball in the bowl covered with a tea towel for 3 hours in a warm place.
  4. Knead the dough by hand, then spread it out into a disk of about 2 cm thick on an oiled plate. Make slits in the dough and let it rest for 1 hour.
  5. Glaze the pastry with beaten egg yolk, then put it in a preheated oven at 150°C for 10 to 15 minutes. You can put a bowl of water in the oven to promote the swelling of the oil pump.
  6. Serve the oil pump hot or cold.

We wish you our best wishes and happy holidays. ! May this time of celebration be filled with happiness, health and peace for you and your family.