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Cuisine of Mantua facts for kids

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Mantuan cuisine is the set of traditional dishes of the Italian province of Mantua, some of which date back to the time of the Gonzaga.

It is a cuisine bound to the land by peasant traditions, however it is very rich and varied. Differences can be found between local variants of the same dish.

Capunsei mantovani
Capunsei

Given the geographical position occupied by the province of Mantua, the Mantuan culinary tradition is similar to the Emilian cuisine where salami and pasta are more prevalent and to the Lombard cuisine, which makes more use of rice.

Antipasti

Salame mantovano
Salame mantovano

The traditional Mantuan antipasto consists of cold cuts.

Other popular cold cuts are:

  • Gras pìstà, pork lardo minced with a knife and garlic
  • Ciccioli or gréppole, pieces of cooked and dried pork and fat
  • Culatello, from Parma (it is, however, also produced in some municipalities of Mantua)

Cold cuts are often accompanied by:

  • Gnocco fritto, squares or rhombuses of bread dough fried in hot lard. It originates from the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia, only in recent times it has spread to the Mantova area, and it is better known with the name of "torta fritta" (fried cake) with which it is called in other areas of Emilia.
  • Chisœla, typical savory focaccia
  • Tirot, focaccia with onions originally from Felonica, typical of the Bassa
  • Chisœlina, crispy and salty scone
  • Luccio in salsa

First courses

Risotto (1)
Risotto alla pilota

Soups with broth:

Dry first courses:

Tortelli
Tortelli di zucca

Second courses

Cotechino-Servito-Polenta-Lenticchie
Cotechino with polenta

Side dishes:

  • Peperonata
  • Polenta
  • Pollo alla Stefani

Desserts

Torta di tagliatelle
Torta di tagliatelle
  • Torta sbrisolona, crumbly almond cake
  • Torta Elvezia
  • Torta di tagliatelle
  • Torta mantovana
  • Torta margherita
  • Torta delle rose
  • Anello di Monaco
  • Bussolano or bussolà
  • Chisöl, sweet focaccia
  • Turtei sguasarot
  • Zabaione
  • Sugolo
  • Fiapòn
  • Torta greca
  • Papasìn
  • Caldi dolci
  • Bignolata
  • Torta sabbiosa or Torta del 3

Wines

  • Colli Morenici Mantovani del Garda bianco
  • Garda Colli Mantovani Cabernet
  • Garda Colli Mantovani Merlot
  • Garda Colli Mantovani Pinot Grigio
  • Garda Colli Mantovani Tocai Italico
  • Garda Colli Mantovani bianco
  • Lambrusco Mantovano

Liquors

  • Nocino, liqueur common in Emilia and made with green walnuts. It must rest for some years before being consumed.

Related articles

  • Cuisine of Alto Mantovano [it]
  • Cuisine of Castel Goffredo [it]
  • Cuisine of the Gonzaga family [it]
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