Provencal pastry, in general tied to Marseille city, the navette is a biscuit in rowing boat-shaped shallow. It measures 7 to 8 centimeters. It is possible to taste it plain or flavoured, by orange blossom or lemon.
Its arrival on the provencal territory come back yet in several centuries and there are so many historical versions. It exits two principals.
According to the first, which come back at around two millenniums, a rowing boat drew alongside the provencal banks of Mediterranean Sea. There were some passengers on board. This persons in the craft, without sail neither oar, were Palestine ‘s Saintes : Magdeleine, Marthe, Lazare…, more renowned under the name of “Sainte Marie”. And it is to celebrate and to remember about the Sisters disembarkation on the provencal territory that Mister Aveyrous, created in 1781 an excellent biscuit which give it a rowing boat-shaped.
The second legend tells about a Virgin ground on Lacydon
rocky inlet banks, next to Marseille. Dressed in a green dress and
a gold crown, it was built in polychrome wood (with several colours). Fate
sing or just protective sign, the Marseille workmans appropriated this mystic
apparition and made a pastry in rowing boat-shaped.
In each versions, it's its arrival by the sea which gave it the name of : the navette.
Since the end of the 18th century, all 2nd February (the date which tally with the arrival of Sisters), all the provencal people taste the navette, blessed by city archbishop, nearby Saint-Victor abbey.
Today the custom is always respected. From now, during all the year, it is possible to taste this speciality made in the pure provencal tradition
Very anchored in provencal culture, more than in the other french regions, the catholic religious and navette tradition are very linked.
In fact, the 2nd February symbolised in the catholic culture, the Candlemas. This custom has for origin the Virgin purification and Jesus presentation at Jerusalem temple.
Sister's arrival on mediterranean territory the 2nd February, is not a coincidence for someone people. That's why, in provençal world, people eat the navette whereas the other french regions eat pancakes.
In this provencal culture, the navette were bought by dozen because it was to represent each mouth in year. The biscuits were combined to blessed candles, always Candlemas symbols. Their flames were supposed to protect the traditional houses in Provence and the sheep pens against the lightning
IWe can make out three sorts of navettes :
According to the ingredients used, the navettes can keep more or less in the time. In a metal box or in a dry place, the biscuits can be tasted several mouth after their making. It is just necessary to reheat in oven in order that regain their crusty, before eat it
Provencal Navettes
To 8 persons
Ingredients :
- 500 g flour
- 200 g sugar
- 75 g butter
- 3 eggs
- 1 lemon zest
- salt
Preparation :
> In a bowl, take the flour, sugar, 50 g of soft butter, 2 eggs and one lemon zest ;
> Mix it, until to obtain a smooth pastry and divided it in 5 parts
;
> On a floured plan, rool out each part in rool-shaped.
> Cut it in part too, and give it an oval or long-shaped.
> Put it on a buttered dish and make it an incision.
> Leave to rest for 2 hours, in warm.
> Glaze with an egg yolk and put it on the oven during 15 minutes (th
6 – 180°).
ENJOY YOUR MEAL !
