Easter Panettone

Pour the flour into a fountain shape on the work surface, insert the warm water, the salt and the fresh yeast, then knead for a long time until you obtain a smooth dough. Shape it into a ball, cover it with a cloth, and let it rise in a warm place until it has doubled in volume.

Peel the potatoes, cook them in half a liter of water until tender, then mash them with a potato masher. Return the puree to the cooking water and stir until smooth, free of large lumps.

Beat the eggs with the sugar in a large bowl until frothy. a mixture puffy and frothy. The mixture should appear light, increased in volume, and homogeneous enough to absorb the fat without separating.

Melt the butter in a double boiler, or use the lard or extra virgin olive oil, then incorporate it to the mixture of eggs and sugar. Dissolve the bread dough into the water with the potatoes and gradually add it, working to distribute the ingredients evenly.

Add theraisins, i candied fruit and the grated orange zest. Slowly incorporate the flour, continuing to work it with your hands for a long time: the dough should be soft and sticky, without becoming compact or dry.

Cover the container with a cloth and proof Let the dough rest in a warm place for about twelve hours. Wait for it to increase significantly in volume and develop a puffy structure, a sign that the fermentation has proceeded correctly.

Divide the dough and pour it into tall, narrow containers, about six inches in diameter. Fill them no more than a third full, leaving enough room for the dough to rise.

Cover the containers again and leave them in a warm place for another twelve hours, or until the dough has reached the correct level in the containers. Proceed to baking when the dough appears well-risen and stable.

Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F) and bake the panettone for about an hour. Halfway through cooking, when the surface has reached a deep golden color, cover it with parchment paperCheck if it's cooked by inserting a wooden skewer: it should come out dry and without any particles of dough.