Vincisgrassi facts for kids
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| Type | Pasta |
|---|---|
| Course | Main |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Region or state | Marche |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Durum wheat |
Vincisgrassi is a special pasta dish from the Marche region in Italy. It is very similar to lasagne al forno, which is a baked lasagna. Many people consider Vincisgrassi a symbol of Marche's amazing food.
Contents
What is Vincisgrassi?
Vincisgrassi is made with flat pasta sheets. This pasta is usually prepared with 100 grams of flour for each egg. The dish also includes a rich meat sauce called ragù. This ragù is different from others because it uses many kinds of meat, cut into bigger pieces. These meats are mixed with spices like cloves, and vegetables such as celery, onion, and carrot. Chicken giblets, tomatoes, and white wine are also added to the sauce.
Another key part of Vincisgrassi is Béchamel sauce. This creamy white sauce is often made with a lot of nutmeg to give it a unique flavor.
A Dish with a Story: How Vincisgrassi Got Its Name
People often tell a story about how Vincisgrassi got its name. The name is thought to come from an Austrian general named Alfred von Windisch-Grätz. He was a general who fought against Napoleon's army. In 1799, he won a battle at Ancona, a city in Marche.
The story says that a lady from Ancona made this special dish to honor the general. He loved the food so much that people decided to name it after him. The name "Vincisgrassi" is a simpler, Italian version of "Windisch-Grätz."
Was the Dish Invented for the General?
It is not totally clear if the dish was created just for the general. It might have been a dish that already existed and was simply dedicated to him. We know this because of a book called "Il cuoco maceratese" (The cook from Macerata). This book was written in 1779 by Antonio Nebbia. In it, he describes a similar lasagna dish called "princisgrass." This older recipe was even richer. So, it is likely that Vincisgrassi was already a part of the food traditions in Marche, especially in the city of Macerata.
Vincisgrassi: A Special Food
Since 2022, Vincisgrassi alla maceratese (meaning "from Macerata") has been given a special status in the European Union. It is now registered as a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed. This means that the dish is made in a traditional way, using specific ingredients and methods. It helps protect the unique recipe and its history.
