Maccu facts for kids

Fava beans (also called broad beans) are a main ingredient in maccu.

Fresh fava beans, shelled and steamed.

Maccu (sometimes called macco) is a special Sicilian soup. It is made mostly from dried and crushed fava beans (also known as broad beans) and fennel. People also use maccu as an ingredient in other dishes, like Bruschetta al maccú and Maccu di San Giuseppe. The Maccu di San Giuseppe dish is often served on Saint Joseph's Day in Sicily.

A Look at Maccu's Past

Maccu is a very old food. It was a common and simple meal for people in ancient history. Some people think the Romans might have created or brought this dish to Sicily. It was made from crushed fava beans. Today, you might not find maccu very often in Sicily. But some restaurants still serve it sometimes.

How Maccu is Made

The main things you need to make maccu are fava beans, fennel seeds, fennel sprigs, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Sometimes, people add other ingredients like tomato, onion, or pasta.

After cooking, the soup is sometimes left to cool down until it becomes solid. Then, it can be cut into strips, covered in flour, and fried in olive oil. For some types of maccu, the fava beans are blended into a smooth purée.

Dishes Featuring Maccu

Pasta cco Maccu, a classic Sicilian dish.

Bruschetta al maccú is a simple dish. It uses bruschetta (toasted bread) with maccu on top. It can be served as a starter or a light lunch.

Maccu for St. Joseph's Day

Maccu di San Giuseppe means "maccu of St. Joseph" in English. It is a traditional Sicilian dish with maccu and other ingredients. This dish is often made on Saint Joseph's Day in Sicily. People would make it to use up food in their pantries. This made space for the new vegetables that would grow in spring.

In Sicily, many people see St. Joseph as their special protector. Long ago, there was a big dry spell in Sicily. People prayed to St. Joseph for rain. They promised to make a big feast for him if he helped. The rain came, and the people made a huge meal. Fava beans were a very important crop that helped people survive during that time. Because of this, fava beans are a traditional part of St. Joseph's Day celebrations. Sharing food with people who need it is also a custom on this day.

Rigatoncini con maccu di fave is another Sicilian dish. It uses rigatoncini pasta, which is a smaller type of rigatoni. This pasta is served with a paste made from fava beans.

See also

In Spanish: Maccu para niños