Pesto alla trapanese facts for kids
The pesto alla trapanese is a tasty sauce from Sicily, a large island in Italy. It's a special kind of pesto that comes from the Province of Trapani. Sometimes, people call it pesto alla siciliana or pasta cull'agghia in the Sicilian language.
This yummy sauce is made with fresh ingredients. It includes garlic, green basil leaves, and crunchy almonds. It also has grated pecorino cheese, ripe tomatoes, salt, and pepper. All these ingredients are mixed together with extra virgin olive oil to create a smooth, flavorful sauce.
What is Pesto Alla Trapanese?
Pesto alla trapanese is a sauce often served with pasta. It's similar to the more famous green pesto from Genoa, but it uses different main ingredients. The Genovese pesto is mostly basil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. Trapanese pesto, however, uses tomatoes and almonds, which grow well in Sicily. This gives it a unique red color and a slightly different taste.
History of Trapanese Pesto
The story of pesto alla trapanese goes back a long time. In ancient times, ships from Genoa would travel from the East and stop at the port of Trapani in Sicily. These sailors brought with them a sauce called agliata. This was a simple pesto made mainly from garlic and walnuts.
The sailors in Trapani then took this idea and made it their own. They used ingredients that were common and fresh in their land. They added juicy tomatoes and almonds, which were plentiful in Sicily. This is how the original agliata changed into the delicious pesto alla trapanese we know today.
A Traditional Italian Food
"Busiati with pesto trapanese" is a very important dish in Italy. It is listed as a traditional Italian food product. This means it's recognized by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies as a special part of Italy's food heritage. This helps to keep the traditions of Italian cooking alive and well.
