Frìttuli facts for kids
Frittole (also called "Frìttuli") is a special dish from Reggio Calabria, a city in southern Italy. It's made from different parts of a pig. While making Frittole, another tasty product called curcùci is also created. There's a similar dish called Frittola in Palermo, Sicily, but it uses calf meat instead of pork.
What is Frittole?
Frittole is a traditional meal from the Calabria region of Italy. It's made by cooking various parts of a pig. These parts include pork rind (skin), meat, and other pieces like parts of the neck, cheek, tongue, nose, ears, and kidneys. Pork fat is also added to give it a rich flavor. Some people describe it as a kind of soup made from meat, bone marrow, and fat.
How is Frittole Made?
Frittole is cooked slowly over hot coals. It's prepared in a special pot called a caddàra. This is a traditional pot made of tinned copper. The caddàra is often set up outside a butcher shop, usually on Saturdays. This allows people to enjoy the Frittole fresh and hot right after it's made.
What is Curcùci?
After all the Frittole is served, there are often leftovers at the bottom of the caddàra. These leftovers, including small bits of meat and fat, solidify as they cool. This solid part is called curcùci. It's a bit like pork cracklings.
Curcùci can be eaten in many ways. For example, it's sometimes mixed with scrambled eggs. Another popular dish is curcùci with polenta and broccoli, which is often eaten in winter. During Easter Monday, a special day called "Pascuni" in Reggio, people enjoy 'pitta with ricotta, eggs, and curcùci.
Frittole Traditions
In Calabria, preparing the pig for Frittole is a very old tradition. It's a time when families and friends gather together. People believe that no part of the pig should be wasted. This means that every part of the animal is used to make food.
Frittole is especially popular in Reggio Calabria during the Feast of Our Lady of Consolation. This is a big celebration where the smell of Frittole fills the air. This helps create a lively and festive mood for everyone.
In a town called Mammola, there's a unique tradition. When a pig is prepared, people sing serenades with accordions and guitars. This is a way to honor the family. Friends and family celebrate this special evening by eating frittole. They often enjoy it with a glass of wine and "bread pizza" (corn bread), which is also cooked in the caddàra.
Frittole is enjoyed in different ways. A common way is "u pani ca 'scorcìtta," which is a bun with pork rind. This is often eaten on Saturdays with local red wine. It's also common to have a big meal called frìttuli. This meal features unique dishes, red wine, and a citrus fruit salad (made with oranges, lemons, and bergamot) to finish the meal.
In the province of Cosenza, frìttuli and Frisui (another local dish) are sometimes served with fried eggs.
See also
In Spanish: Frittole para niños
