Impade facts for kids
| Type | Cookie or biscuit |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Jewish Community of Venice, Italy |
| Created by | Venetian Jews |
| Variations | Filling: traditionally marzipan |
Impade is a special kind of cookie. It comes from the Sephardi Jewish people, especially those from the Jewish community in Venice, Italy. People often make Impade for a holiday called Purim, but you can enjoy them any time of the year.
What's in a Name?
The name Impade might be connected to another food called empanada. Empanadas are tasty pastries that were popular with Sephardic Jews a long time ago. They lived in a place called Iberia before the Inquisition. The word empanada means "wrapped in bread" in Spanish. These pastries have been around since at least the year 1500.
A Sweet History
"Today, Venice is home to only about 450 Jews, 30 of whom live in the (now very touristy) ghetto, where you can still find a kosher bakery cooking up traditional treats like impade."
Impade cookies were first made by the Jewish community in Venice, Italy. This community has been there for a very long time. Many of them were Sephardic Jewish refugees who came to Venice starting in the Middle Ages. They were escaping from the Spanish Inquisition, a time when Jewish people faced unfair rules in Spain.
The sweet almond filling in Impade cookies suggests they might have come from other desserts. Sephardic Jews brought these desserts to Venice in the 1400s. Almonds were a common ingredient in baking in Iberia (Spain and Portugal) during the Middle Ages. You can also find Almond paste and marzipan in many Jewish desserts around the world.
Jewish people in Venice faced unfair rules and could only work in certain jobs. Baking breads, cookies, and pastries like Impade was one of the jobs they were allowed to do. Impade became a special treat for Purim. This Jewish holiday celebrates the victory of Queen Esther over the evil King Haman.
What is Impade?
Impade is a small, firm cookie. It is often shaped like a snake or the letter "S". The dough for Impade is pareve, which means it does not contain any dairy products. It is made from flour, oil, eggs, sugar, and salt. Inside, the cookie has a sweet filling, usually almond paste or marzipan. Often, Impade cookies are finished with a dusting of powdered sugar on top.
