Cuisine of Basilicata

Last updated
Peperoni cruschi, a variety of dry pepper typical of Lucanical cuisine Le Lamie di Bitonte.jpg
Peperoni cruschi, a variety of dry pepper typical of Lucanical cuisine

The cuisine of Basilicata, or Lucanian cuisine, is the cuisine of the Basilicata region of Italy. It is mainly based on the use of pork and sheep meat, legumes, cereals and vegetables, with the addition of aromas such as hot peppers, powdered raw peppers and horseradish. The local gastronomy is, for historical-cultural reasons, typically peasant, based on simple recipes and on the culture of reuse, in particular of meat and bread. [1]

Contents

Some dishes have undergone variations and enrichments in modern times, losing the connotations of "poor" cooking which characterized them in the past. The most ancient manuscript available about Lucanian cooking dates back to 1524, by Antonio Camuria from Lagonegro, cook at the service of the Carafa family. [2] [3]

Characteristics

The region is characterized by many small towns, villages and rural centers often separated by geographical barriers, therefore determining the necessity of cooking and eating what was produced on the spot, according to techniques developed on the spot. The most common recipes, passing from an area to another, from a village to another take on different connotations, and are made with different raw materials.

Pork has been a fundamental ingredient of Lucanian cooking since ancient Roman times. According to Marcus Terentius Varro, in ancient Lucania (which included most of today's Basilicata) originated the sausage, at the time called lucanica , which spread, later, in the whole national territory and from which originated the luganega , typical sausage of northern Italy.

Little used fish in the hinterland and only widespread in the limited Tyrrhenian and Ionic coasts. [4] In the past, salt cod was the most common variety in inland areas because of its long shelf life.

Among the most used legumes and cereals there are beans, chickpeas, chickling peas, broad beans, barley and spelt, which are widely used in different recipes such as crapiata and ciaudedda; and used for the production of mischiglio, a mixture of flours dating back to the sixteenth century, used for the preparation of dishes served on the tables of counts, barons, marquises and landowners of Basilicata. [5]

Fruit has always represented an essential component. Figs, in particular, were considered a versatile food: consumed both in holidays and in the most intense working periods such as harvesting. [6] Grapes, besides the production of wines, have a culinary use in the preparation of first courses (lagana chiapputa) and desserts such as pan minisc'. Dried fruits such as chestnuts are used in many ways in first and second courses, as well as in sweets such as calzoncelli.

Peperone crusco, a variety of dried bell pepper, is a key element of the regional cooking, so much to be labeled as "the red gold of Basilicata". [7] It is consumed both as a snack and in the preparation of first courses, second courses and appetizers, such as Pasta con i peperoni cruschi, baccalà allaLucana (salt cod) and acquasale . A very used aromatic element is horseradish, defined by people from Basilicata as "poor man's truffle", historically common on the tables of labourers because of its accessible costs and its wide spreading in the territory. [8] Horseradish is a fundamental ingredient of condiments such as ndruppeche, main courses such as rafanata or by mixing it with bread and potatoes to prepare meatballs, as well as to flavor meat.

A condiment frequently found in Lucanian dishes is bread crumbs which, in the past, was considered the "poor man's cheese", representing an alternative to more expensive dairy products. [9]

Ancient is the art of calzone , known in Basilicata with different names such as pastizz or falagone, datable at least between the eighteenth and nineteenth century. [10]

Pasta dishes

Pasta con i peperoni cruschi Frizzuli con peperoni cruschi.jpg
Pasta con i peperoni cruschi
Pasta con ragu alla potentina ('ndruppeche) Ragu alla potentina.jpg
Pasta con ragù alla potentina ('ndruppeche)
Tumact me tulez Tumact me tulez.jpg
Tumact me tulez

Basilicata is considered the region with the highest consumption of pasta. The figures reach 42 kg (93 lb) per capita per year, compared to the national average of 24 kg (53 lb). [11] Typical pasta formats of the region are strascinati, cavatelli (also known as rascatielli), ferretti (also known as ferricelli, fusilli or frizzuli), orecchiette, maccaronara, lagane (not to be confused with lagane better known as lasagne), an ancient pasta format dating back to Roman times, similar to tagliatelle but slightly shorter and thicker, and manate, a long pasta rather thick and irregularly shaped. [12]

Some notable pasta dishes are:

Secondi

Baccala alla lucana Baccala Avigliano.jpg
Baccalà alla lucana
Gnummareddi Gnummuriedd.jpg
Gnummareddi
Rafanata Rafanata.jpg
Rafanata

Ingredients which stand out in Lucanian second courses are pork and sheep meat, with some exceptions of chicken and fish. Among these are to be mentioned:

Other dishes

Il pasticcio.jpg
Pizza rustica lucana

Side dishes

Lampascioni, egg and cruschi peppers salad Insalata di lampascioni.jpg
Lampascioni, egg and cruschi peppers salad

Bread

Pane di Matera Pane di Matera (cropped).jpg
Pane di Matera

Among the most famous bakery products offered by the region there is Matera bread, certified I.G.P. Other types of bread to be mentioned are Trecchina bread and San Severino Lucano potato bread, both recognized as traditional food products. [56]

Among the focaccias there are the strazzata, a variety with pepper; the carchiola, an unleavened corn focaccia cooked in a fireplace, both typical of Avigliano; focaccia with powdered crusco bell pepper and focaccia with honey. Other bakery products are friselle and taralli, as well as those of arbëreshë origin such as cugliaccio (kulac), a sweet linked to weddings and Easter festivities; and petulla Shën Paljit, a thin crepe with a savory taste stuffed with cheese and cold cuts.

Like other Italian regions, Basilicata also has its own version of Easter bread, which has many variations and different names such as picciddat [57] and piccilatiedd. [58] Other products of the Easter period are ficazzola (f'cazzol), panierino (u' panaridd) and bambolina (a' pipua), typical of Oliveto Lucano. [59]

Oils

Olive tree in Ferrandina Oliva Majatica.jpg
Olive tree in Ferrandina

In the cuisine of Basilicata important and essential element is the oil, present in almost all regional dishes. In fact, in Basilicata, the olive tree covers over 85% of the cultivated area. [60] The areas with higher production are Vulture-Melfese, low Val d'Agri and low Collina materana. [60]

The most common quality of olives in this region is the Ogliarola del Vulture (also called Ogliarola di Melfi or Rapollese) [61] and Majatica di Ferrandina. The oil produced is mainly extra-virgin olive oil, but virgin olive oil is also produced. The predominant color of the oil is golden yellow with green reflections.

Cold cuts

Lucanica di Picerno Salsiccia Lucanica di Picerno 2.jpg
Lucanica di Picerno

Typical pork cold cuts are:

Picerno is the undisputed pole in this sector, producing about 50% of Lucanian cold cuts. Typical regional cold cuts are the lucanica di Picerno, the chain sausage of Cancellara and the nuglia di Laurenzana. In Tricarico are typical products derived from black pig. Pork is also used to produce lard and sanguinaccio dolce. Wild boar is also used for the production of sausages and of borzillo (U' burzill), a spreadable sausage with sweet bell pepper paste, typical of Pietragalla. [62]

Cheese

Pecorino di Filiano Pecorino di Filiano.jpg
Pecorino di Filiano

Traditional cheeses from Basilicata are:

Among the most famous types are pecorino di Filiano, canestrato di Moliterno, padraccio, toma and treccia dura (or treccione), the latter defined as "cheese of Basilicata" since it belongs to the cheese-making tradition of Basilicata, as stated in "La statistica del Regno di Napoli" (Statistics of the Kingdom of Naples) of 1811. [63]

Fruits, vegetables, and beans

Melanzana rossa di Rotonda Melanzana rossa di Rotonda 2.jpg
Melanzana rossa di Rotonda

Typical fruits of the region are Pear Lady of Sinni Valley, Pink Fig of Pisticci, strawberries "Sabrosa" and "Candonga", and orange Staccia of Metapontino. Common types of dried fruits are almonds, pistachios (the ones from Stigliano are well known) [64] and chestnuts, in particular those of Vulture such as the marroncino of Melfi which are a central ingredient of first and second courses, desserts, liqueurs [65] and sought after by the processing industries for the preparation of marron glacé.

Among fruit and vegetables are to be mentioned the Peperone di Senise, the Melanzana Rossa di Rotonda and the Pomodoro Ciettaicale di Tolve. Legumes are widely used, such as beans (in particular the Sarconi bean, but also the ones from Rotonda, Muro Lucano and Rivello), chickpeas from Latronico, and lentils from Potenza.

Desserts

Tarallo glassato and calzoncelli Tarallo dolce e calzoncelli.JPG
Tarallo glassato and calzoncelli
Nocetti Nocetti.jpg
Nocetti
Scorzette Scorzette.jpg
Scorzette

The confectionery tradition is, for the most part, simple and not very elaborated, based on easily available ingredients that the land offered. The products are, mainly, dry and of small dimensions, which allowed an easy transport and an easy consumption to the laborers during the working activities. Among typical sweets there are:

Wines, liquors and drinks

Aglianico vineyard with Mount Vulture in the background Panorama con Vigneto Monte Vulture.jpg
Aglianico vineyard with Mount Vulture in the background

Basilicata is one of the most ancient regions of Italy having a viticultural vocation; at the end of the XX century, 154 different cultivar denominations were registered in the municipalities of Basilicata. [83] Vines cultivated are mainly black berried. Among the most relevant wines there are Aglianico del Vulture, Grottino di Roccanova, Matera and Terre dell'Alta Val d'Agri. White wines are also produced, even though to a lesser extent, from greco and Malvasia, in particular in Vulture and Metapontino. [84]

Typical spirits are Amaro Lucano from Pisticci, elderberry liqueur from Chiaromonte and Sempre Freddo from Avigliano, made of Aglianico and black cherry; other types produced are nocino, fragolino, limoncello cream, citron and orange liqueurs. Among beverages there is Birra Morena, produced in Balvano, and the soft drink Avena from Potenza.

Mineral waters in Basilicata represent the largest reservoir in Italy, amounting to more than 30% of the national water resources. [85] The sources of Vulture, the area of greatest production, have volcanic materials that provide the spring waters with a natural effervescence, a rare characteristic in the panorama of mineral waters. [86] Among mineral waters to be mentioned are those produced by Fonti del Vulture and Gaudianello, both operating at Monticchio Bagni, a hamlet of Rionero in Vulture.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Molise</span> Region of Italy

Molise is a region of Southern Italy. Until 1963, it formed part of the region of Abruzzi e Molise together with Abruzzo. The split, which did not become effective until 1970, makes Molise the newest region in Italy. Covering 4,438 square kilometres (1,714 sq mi), it is the second smallest region in the country, after the Aosta Valley, and has a population of 313,348.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilicata</span> Region of Italy

Basilicata, also known by its ancient name Lucania, is an administrative region in Southern Italy, bordering on Campania to the west, Apulia to the north and east, and Calabria to the south. It has two coastlines: a 30-km stretch on the Tyrrhenian Sea between Campania and Calabria, and a longer coastline along the Gulf of Taranto between Calabria and Apulia. The region can be thought of as the "instep" of the "boot" of Italy, with Calabria functioning as the "toe" and Apulia the "heel".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peasant foods</span> Dishes eaten by peasants

Peasant foods are dishes eaten by peasants, made from accessible and inexpensive ingredients.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arrabbiata sauce</span> Spicy tomato sauce for pasta

Arrabbiata sauce, or sugo all'arrabbiata in Italian, is a spicy sauce for pasta made from garlic, tomatoes, and dried red chili peppers cooked in olive oil. The sauce originates from the Lazio region, and particularly from the city of Rome.

<i>Cacciatore</i> Italian dish

Cacciatore refers to a meal prepared with onions, herbs, usually tomatoes, often bell peppers, and sometimes wine. It is typical of the Italian cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian cuisine</span> Culinary traditions of Italy

Italian cuisine is a Mediterranean cuisine consisting of the ingredients, recipes and cooking techniques developed in Italy since Roman times and later spread around the world together with waves of Italian diaspora. Some of these foods were imported from other cultures. Significant changes occurred with the colonization of the Americas and the introduction of potatoes, tomatoes, capsicums, maize and sugar beet—the latter introduced in quantity in the 18th century. It is one of the best-known and most appreciated gastronomies worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amatriciana sauce</span> Traditional Italian pasta sauce

Sugoall'amatriciana, or alla matriciana, also known as salsa all'amatriciana, is a traditional Italian pasta sauce based on guanciale, pecorino romano cheese, tomato, and, in some variations, onion. Originating from the town of Amatrice, the amatriciana is one of the best known pasta sauces in present-day Roman and Italian cuisine. The Italian government has named it a traditional agro-alimentary product of Lazio and amatriciana tradizionale is registered as a traditional speciality guaranteed in the EU and the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neapolitan cuisine</span> Traditional food of Naples, Italy

Neapolitan cuisine has ancient historical roots that date back to the Greco-Roman period, which was enriched over the centuries by the influence of the different cultures that controlled Naples and its kingdoms, such as that of Aragon and France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuisine of Sardinia</span> Cuisine originating from the island of Sardinia

The cuisine of Sardinia is the traditional cuisine of the island of Sardinia, and the expression of its culinary art. It is characterised by its own variety, and by the fact of having been enriched through a number of interactions with the other Mediterranean cultures while retaining its own identity. Sardinia's food culture is strictly divided into food from the land and food from the sea, reflecting the island's historical vicissitudes and especially its geographic landscapes, spacing from the coastline to the ragged mountains of the interior. The Sardinian cuisine is considered part of the Mediterranean diet, a nutritional model that was proclaimed by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman cuisine</span> Local cuisine in and around the city of Rome

Roman cuisine comes from the Italian city of Rome. It features fresh, seasonal and simply-prepared ingredients from the Roman Campagna. These include peas, globe artichokes and fava beans, shellfish, milk-fed lamb and goat, and cheeses such as pecorino romano and ricotta. Olive oil is used mostly to dress raw vegetables, while strutto and fat from prosciutto are preferred for frying. The most popular sweets in Rome are small individual pastries called pasticcini, gelato and handmade chocolates and candies. Special dishes are often reserved for different days of the week; for example, gnocchi is eaten on Thursdays, baccalà on Fridays, and trippa on Saturdays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lombard cuisine</span> Italian cuisine from the Lombard region

Lombard cuisine is the style of cooking in the Northern Italian region of Lombardy. The historical events of its provinces and of the diversity of its territories resulted in a varied culinary tradition. First courses in Lombard cuisine range from risottos to soups and stuffed pasta, and a large choice of second course meat or fish dishes, due to the many lakes and rivers of Lombardy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuisine of Abruzzo</span> Culinary tradition of Abruzzo

The traditional cuisine of Abruzzo is eclectic, drawing on pastoral, mountain, and coastal cuisine. Staples of Abruzzo cuisine include bread, pasta, meat, fish, cheese, and wine. The isolation which has characterized the region for centuries has ensured the independence of its culinary tradition from those of nearby regions. Local cuisine was widely appreciated in a 2013 survey among foreign tourists.

<i>Rafanata</i>

Rafanata is an egg-based dish from the Basilicata region of Italy. The name comes from rafano, the main ingredient of the dish, which means 'horseradish' in Italian. It is a kind of baked frittata made with horseradish, potatoes and cheese; Another type of rafanata includes sausage. Rafanata is typical of the Carnival and winter periods.

<i>Ricotta forte</i> Italian cheese

Ricotta forte is a very traditional soft cheese of Basilicata and Apulia, in southeastern Italy. It is creamy, spicy and slightly bitter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peperone crusco</span> Variety of dry pepper typical of Lucanian cuisine

The peperone crusco, also known as "crusco pepper", is a typical product of the Italian region of Basilicata.

<i>Pasta con i peperoni cruschi</i> Pasta dish from Basilicata, Italy

Pasta con i peperoni cruschi is an Italian pasta dish flavored with peppers and typical of the Basilicata region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuisine of Liguria</span>

Ligurian cuisine consists of dishes from the culinary tradition of Liguria, a region of northwestern Italy, which makes use of ingredients linked both to local production, and to imports from areas with which, over the centuries, the Ligurians have had frequent trade.

<i>Malloreddus</i>

Malloreddus, sometimes Italianized as gnocchetti sardi, are a type of pasta typical of Sardinian cuisine. They have the shape of thin ribbed shells, about 2 cm (0.79 in) long, and are made of semolina flour and water. They are usually eaten with different sauces

<i>Culurgiones</i> Stuffed pasta

Culurgiones are a type of Sardinian ravioli-like stuffed pasta. It exists in a version made of potatoes, pecorino cheese and mint, a typical culinary specialty of the sub-region of Ogliastra, and in several other recipes adopted in the rest of the island, such as in Gallura, where the product is aromatized with lemon or orange peel.

References

  1. Accademia italiana della cucina. "La cucina del riuso" (PDF). p. 272. Retrieved 18 September 2020.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  2. "Piatti lucani nel Rinascimento. Così si mangiava nel 1524". lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it.
  3. "A tavola nel 1524. Il cuoco di Lagonegro Antonio Camuria sbarca a Potenza". ecodibasilicata.it.
  4. "Garum di Maratea". topfooditaly.net.
  5. "Federico Valicenti. Cavatelli di mischiglio della Contea di Chiaromonte alle cinque erbe". italianroyalfood.com. 31 August 2011.
  6. "L'alimentazione lucana dall'unità d'Itlaia ai giorni nostri" (PDF). brigantaggio.net.
  7. "Peperoni Cruschi: l'oro rosso di Basilicata". primochef.it. 16 January 2018.
  8. "Rafano e cucina lucana". taccuinigastrosofici.it.
  9. "Come preparare la mollica fritta di pane". basilicatatravel.it. 19 July 2013.
  10. "Basilicata: a Rotondella un calzone pieno di storia". turismo.it.
  11. "Cia: tutelare grano-pasta made in Basilicata e Made in Italy". regione.basilicata.it.
  12. "Manate e manatelle". topfooditaly.net.
  13. "Calzoni di Pezzente della montagna materana e fagioli di Sarconi IGP "San Michele rosso"". saporideisassi.it. 15 February 2011.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Ricette dell'antica Lucania" (PDF). regione.basilicata.it.
  15. "Cucina tradizionale". prolocofiliano.it. April 2012.
  16. "Ferrett' cù Pezzent' e Rafano (Fusilli con pezzente e rafano)". saporilucani.com. 9 February 2016.
  17. "Il cibosofo e il vino cotto". angeloma.it.
  18. "Orecchiette alla materana". ricetteregionali.net.
  19. "Pasta,fagiolini e cacioricotta". ceabernaldametaponto.it.
  20. "Strascinati mollicati con i peperoni cruschi, l'orgoglio lucano". cia.it.
  21. "Frizzuli (fusilli) con peperoni cruschi e cacio-ricotta". ondalucana.com.[ permanent dead link ]
  22. "Cavatelli con Mollica fritta e Peperoni Cruschi". saporideisassi.it. 29 December 2009.
  23. "Che cos'è e come si mangia il salame pezzente?". agrodolce.it. 2 March 2018.
  24. "La pasta ammuddicata". saporilucani.com. 2 December 2014.
  25. "Ricette Lucane: Strascinati con la menta". vacanzeinbasilicata.it.
  26. "Timballo di Basilicata". risotto.us. 11 June 2020.
  27. "Tumact me tulez. Ricetta". inthefoodforlove.it. 9 October 2017.
  28. "Agnello alla contadina". viaherculia.it.
  29. "Ricette Lucane: anguilla di pantano". vacanzeinbasilicata.it.
  30. "Baccalà alla potentina". lacucinaitaliana.it.
  31. "Cappucci e cicorie". ricetteregionali.net.
  32. "Cutturidd". saporetipico.it.
  33. "Gastronomia e ricette". comune.moliterno.pz.it. Archived from the original on 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  34. "Gli Gnummareddi". saporilucani.com. 10 March 2015.
  35. "La trippa risottata, dai matrimoni dei contadini alla cucina di MasterChef". saporilucani.com. 21 April 2016.
  36. "Maiale con cipolle". isassidimatera.com.
  37. "Pollo alla potentina". lacucinaitaliana.it.
  38. "Ricette lucane". novasiri.it.
  39. "Ricette Lucane: Sarde con origano e pane". vacanzeinbasilicata.it.
  40. "Filetti di spigola alla malvasia lucana". isassidimatera.com.
  41. "Ricette Lucane: La zucca lunga sposata". vacanzeinbasilicata.it.
  42. "Crapiata, la zuppa materana rito collettivo dei Sassi di un tempo". informacibo.it. 21 January 2019.
  43. "Ricetta: la Cuccìa di Castelmezzano".
  44. "Falagone P.A.T." formaggio.it.
  45. "Atlante della tavola". yumpu.com.
  46. "Scarcedda". cuorebasilicata.it.
  47. "U' Pastizz 'Rtunnar". fondazioneslowfood.com.
  48. "Biscotti alla salvia". www.chicucina.it.
  49. "La ciambotta lucana". saporilucani.com. 31 August 2016.
  50. "La ciaudedda lucana". saporilucani.com. 25 February 2015.
  51. "Lampascioni in insalata, uova e salsiccia".
  52. "Patate raganate, sfizioso contorno lucano". ricettegourmet.com. 15 August 2016.
  53. "Laurenzana". basilicataturistica.it.
  54. "Patatelle alla Viggianese - Piatto tipico di Viggiano (PZ)". www.ilborghista.it.
  55. "Peperoni ripieni alla lucana". topfooditaly.net.
  56. "Lista prodotti agroalimentari tradizionali lucani" (PDF). regione.basilicata.it.
  57. "Picciddat Castelluccese". viaherculia.it.
  58. "La cucina nella Potenza di Raffaele Riviello; i Piccilatiedd". potentiareview.it.
  59. "U' panaridd di Oliveto Lucano". topfooditaly.net.
  60. 1 2 "La produzione di olio di oliva in Basilicata". itolio.it.
  61. "Olio lucano. Caratteristiche del prodotto". gazzettaufficiale.it.
  62. "Basilicata. Salumi e formaggi". italianroyalfood.com.[ permanent dead link ]
  63. "Treccia dura". intavoliamo.it.
  64. "Prodotti tipici locali: il Pistacchio di Stigliano". foodandsoon.com.
  65. "Il Marroncino di Melfi, una castagna tutta lucana". esperienzeconilsud.it.
  66. "Anginetti di Lauria". intavoliamo.it.
  67. 1 2 3 4 "Dolci tipici". turismomatera.it.
  68. "Bocconotti di Maratea – Scrigni di frolla con crema pasticcera e marmellata". rosapompelmo.it. Archived from the original on 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  69. "Panzerotti (calzoncelli) di Natale". saporilucani.com.
  70. "Cannaricoli di Viggianello".
  71. "Cicerata". intavoliamo.it.
  72. "Trecchina (PZ) - I dolci di noci". aptbasilicata.it. Archived from the original on 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  73. "Pan minisc'". cuorebasilicata.it.
  74. "Pastarelle decorate con lo zucchero". ilmetapontino.it.
  75. "Pesche grigliate con gelato". saporilucani.com.
  76. "Rosacatarra". intavoliamo.it.
  77. "La scorzetta - l'originale". scorzetta.it.
  78. "Soppressata di fichi di Carbone". viaherculia.it.
  79. "Spumino di Cersosimo". topfooditaly.net.
  80. "Pesche grigliate con gelato". saporilucani.com.
  81. "La Basilicata in 9 biscotti e la ricetta dei taralli glassati della pasticceria Tiri 1957". gamberorosso.it.
  82. "Il dolce senza nome, simbolo culinario delle feste lucane". gazzettadelgusto.it.
  83. "Basilicata IGT". assovini.it.
  84. "I vitigni della Basilicata". quattrocalici.it.
  85. "Basilicata, record per le minerali: un miliardo di litri imbottigliati". ilsole24ore.com.
  86. "Ingv - Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia presenta "Vulcani in podcast"". culturabile.it. Archived from the original on 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2021-10-25.

Other projects