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Apulian cuisine
AlexanderVanLoon: remove empty Bibliography section, by mistake it hadn't been removed
'''Apulian cuisine''' consists of the cooking traditions and practices of the region of [[Apulia]] in [[Italy]]. Starting from the [[Middle Ages]] the permanent residence of the nobility in the region gradually declined, which caused the disappearence of their noble cuisine over time. As the common people suffered from poverty, their culinary tradition adapted to use cheap and simple foods. Bread, vegetables and pasta have the leading role in the cuisine. Fruits, fish and wine are consumed frequently as well, but meat plays a minor role. The food of Apulia is known as a prime example of ''[[cucina povera]]'' or 'cuisine of the poor', but this characterizes its simplicity rather than its quality. More so, the plain dishes allow the quality of their local and seasonal ingredients to take center stage.
== History ==
After the period of [[Magna Graecia]], Apulia never had political autonomy. It was always a peripheral region of a larger state. From the Middle Ages until the [[Italian unification]] in the 19th century Apulia was controlled by the [[Kingdom of Naples]] and later the [[Kingdom of the Two Sicilies]]. It was governed from [[Naples]] in [[Campania]], the capital of both kingdoms.
The nobility, which owned large tracts of land in Apulia, preferred to live in Naples. If they spent any time in Apulia, it was for brief inspections of their properties and the collection of profits. As a consequence the cuisine of the nobility started to disappear in Apulia during the 18th and 19th centuries. The cuisine of the [[monastery|monastries]], which were present in large numbers in Apulia, never became part of the local tradition. As charitable instutions which supported the poor, the food they served them was limited to soups.
Because of these factors, the cuisine of common people defines the gastronomy of Apulia. Historically Apulia was a poor region, which meant that ingredients had to be affordable, local and seasonal. Due to this frugality vegetables attained an important role. Dishes are plain and simple, without elaborate preparations. The food of Apulia is often characterized as [[peasant food]] or ''cucina povera'', the 'cuisine of the poor'. In spite of this, the dishes are richer and more complex than the number of ingredients and the simplicity of the cooking methods would suggest.
The first cookbook on Apulian cuisine was ''Il Libro della Cocina'' from 1504, which covered the cooking of the nobility. It contains some recipes which are not Apulian, but which became part of the local tradition over time. This demonstrates that Apulians were eager to adopt cooking practices from other regions and integrate them into their own cuisine.
In modern times Apulian cuisine distinguishes between appetizers, first and second courses. Separate courses are a relatively new addition to the cuisine, because in the past a meal used to consist of a single dish. Many dishes now served as appetizers were inspired by single dishes which made up an entire meal. Some dishes which are now served as first courses can still be quite filling and rich in ingredients, which reflect their use as a single dish for the entire meal.
== Ingredients and dishes ==
=== Street food ===
[[File:Calzone fritto.jpg|thumb|''Panzerotto'' is a turnover, traditionally deep-fried and often filled with ''mozzarella'' and tomato.]]
[[File:FocacciaBarese.jpg|thumb|''Focaccia Barese'' with tomatoes and olives.]]
Many street foods are based on bread. The ''[[Puccia (bread)|puccia]]'' (plural ''pucce'') is a small, flat and round bread which may or may not have olives mixed through its dough. The version with olives is eaten as is, but the version without olives is sliced open and stuffed with many kinds of vegetables, meat or seafood. The ''[[panzerotto]]'' is a [[Turnover (food)|turnover]] filled with various stuffings. A combination of [[tomato]]es and ''[[mozzarella]]'' is popular. They are similar to the ''[[calzone]]'' of Naples, but are smaller and use a softer dough. They can be baked in the oven like ''calzone'', but deep frying is traditional. ''[[Focaccia Barese]]'' is a local variation of ''[[focaccia]]'' originating from [[Bari]], which is covered with tomatoes, [[oregano]] and optionally [[olive]]s, with [[olive oil]] drizzled on top.
The ''[[Rustico (pastry)|rustico]]'' which is popular in the area of [[Lecce]] doesn't use bread but [[puff pastry]] as a base. The pastry is filled with ''[[béchamel sauce|béchamel]]'' sauce, ''mozzarella'' and [[tomato sauce]] and then baked in the oven. ''[[Scagliozzi]]'' may be the only popular way to eat ''[[polenta]]'' in Apulia. ''Polenta'' is prepared normally and then allowed to cool and dry. It is then cut in slices and deep fried. ''[[Pettole]]'' are deep-fried [[croquette]]s made from a liquid batter of flour with yeast, which may include boiled [[potato]]es. There are flavoured version with small pieces of fish or vegetables, as well as sweet versions.
=== Bread ===
[[File:Pane tradizionale di Altamura.jpg|thumb|''Pane di Altamura'' is bread made entirely of durum flour.]]
Bread is a very important part of the Apulian diet. The vast majority of [[wheat]] cultivated in Puglia is [[durum wheat]], with minimal production of [[common wheat]]. For this reason many types of bread are made entirely or partially with durum wheat. The most highly regarded breads are ''[[Pane di Altamura]]'', ''[[Pane di Laterza]]'' and ''[[Pane di Monte Sant'Angelo]]''. ''Pane di Altamura'' was granted [[Geographical indications and traditional specialities (EU)#Protected designation of origin (PDO)|Protected Designation of Origin]] (PDO) status in the [[European Union]] (EU) and is made entirely with durum wheat flour, just like ''Pane di Laterza''. ''Pane di Monte Sant'Angelo'' stands out because it is traditionally made with only common wheat flour.
''[[Frisella]]'' is a bread with a long shelf life, making it a suitable alternative to fresh bread. It has a toroidal shape with a hole in the center, which facilitated stringing them together for storage and transport. The dough is made with either wheat, durum or barley flour. After a first stage of baking in the oven, the friselle is cut horizontally and then baked in the oven again until they are completely dry. Before consumption the friselle is soaked in water until it is still crisp but not mushy. It is then eaten with a variety of toppings.
''[[Taralli]]'' are popular toroidal [[cracker]]s which are eaten as [[snack food]]. They are made with flour, olive oil, white wine and salt along with other ingredients. The classical version uses [[fennel]] seeds, but they come in many variations and can be savoury or sweet. They are eaten as is or dunked in wine.
Instead of disposing of [[Staling|stale]] bread, Apulians have invented many dishes to make it palatable. ''[[Cialledda]]'', also called ''aquasale'', is one of these. After soaking bread in water to soften it, it is combined with tomatoes, olive oil and salt. The dish ''[[pancotto]]'' is similar, but more elaborate with more ingredients. Stale bread is also used to make dry [[breadcrumbs]] which can be used a garnish for several dishes.
=== Cheese ===
[[File:Pallone di Gravina.jpg|thumb|''Pallone di Gravina'' is an aged cow's milk cheese.]]
The cheese from Apulia which is most popular internationally is the fresh cheese ''[[burrata]]''. This cheese consists of an outer shell of ''mozzarella'' which is filled with ''[[Stracciatella di bufala|stracciatella]]'' and cream. Only ''burrata di [[Andria]]'' is protected under the [[Geographical indications and traditional specialities in the European Union#Protected geographical indication (PGI)|Protected Geographical Indication]] (PGI) status by the EU, so the generic name is also used for ''burrata'' produced outside Apulia. The PDO cheeses of Apulia are the aged ''[[caciocavallo|caciocavallo Silano]]'', ''[[canestrato|canestrato Pugliese]]'' and fresh ''[[Buffalo mozzarella|mozzarella di bufala Campana]]''. Other cheeses include ''caciocavallo podolico'', ''[[cacioricotta|cacioricotta Pugliese]]'', ''[[pallone di Gravina]]'' and several varietes of ''[[ricotta]]'', of which ''[[ricotta forte]]'' has an especially strong flavor.
=== Fruit ===
Just like other regions in [[southern Italy]], olive oil is the principal cooking fat. While table olives are now frequently served as appetizers, they were even more important in the past as they were often the only available food next to bread. Apulia is Italy's largest producer of olive oil and table olives, with many local varieties. No less than five of these oils and one table olive, respectively the ''[[Collina di Brindisi]]'', ''[[Dauno]]'', ''[[Terra di Bari]]'', ''[[Terra d'Otranto]]'', ''[[Terre Tarentine]]'' and ''[[La Bella della Daunia]]'', are protected under the PDO status.
Many different sweet fruits are enjoyed as a dessert at the end of a meal. The ''[[arancia del Gargano]]'' and ''[[Clementine#Varieties|clementine del Golfo di Taranto]]'' are respectively an [[Orange (fruit)|orange]] and clementine which enjoy PDO status. The ''[[limone femminello del Gargano]]'' is a [[lemon]] which was granted PGI status. The fruit of the [[Opuntia ficus-indica|prickly pear]] cactus which dots the countryside is consumed as well.
=== Soups ===
Soups are especially popular as winter dishes, with a main role for vegetables along with legumes and short pasta shapes. Bread is often included as well, either on the side or included in the soup. The bread dishes ''cialledda'' and ''pancotto'' may also be prepared in the form of a soup if a vegetable broth is added. A soup from the [[Salento]] is called ''[[cecamariti]]'', literally meaning 'blinding the husband'. The dish received its name from its impressive appearence, which conceals its easy preparation. There are also fish soups, which feature a rich broth due to the addition of small fish with bones included.
=== Pasta ===
[[File:Orecchiette DSCN3822.TIF|thumb|''Orecchiette'' is the emblematic pasta shape of Apulia.]]
Eggs are an essential ingredient for pasta in [[northern Italy]], but in Apulia and other regions of Southern Italy only [[semolina]] and water is used. This was done mainly for economic reasons, because eggs were considered too valuable for an everyday dish like pasta. Omitting eggs from pasta dough allowed their use in other dishes.
''Orechiette'' is considered the signature pasta shape of Apulia, but there are many other shapes as well. These include ''[[cavatelli]]'', ''[[capunti]]'' (typical of the [[Altopiano delle Murge|Murgia plateau]]), ''[[troccoli]]'' (from the [[Province of Foggia|Daunia]]), ''[[lagane]]'' and ''[[Sagne (pasta)|sagne]]''. ''Orrechiette'' is frequently combined with fried ''[[Rapini|cime di rape]]'' in ''[[orrechiette con le cime di rape]]''. Next to the familiar combinations of pasta with tomato sauces, meat and seafood, there are some characteristic Apulian combinations with vegetables. ''[[Ciceri e tria]]'' for example combines [[tagliatelle]] with [[chickpea]]s and ''lagane con purè di fave'' combines tagliatelle with [[broad bean]] puree.
Pasta can also be made with ''[[grano arso]]'', 'burnt grain'. In the past the remaining ears of grains would be gathered from the grain fields after the grain harvest, when the grain stubbles were burnt to clear the field. While this used to be done out of extreme poverty or frugality, pasta made with ''grano arso'' is now considered a delicacy.
=== Vegetables ===
The broad bean and the ''cime di rape'' are the typical vegetables of Apulia. The broad bean has been the [[staple food]] in the region for thousands of years. In its dried and split form it is the main ingredient of the famous dish ''[[fave e cicoria]]''. Other frequently used vegetables include fennel, [[zucchini]], [[artichoke]], [[bell pepper]], [[cauliflower]], [[eggplant]], wild leaf [[chicory]], the [[Pleurotus eryngii|cardoncello mushroom]] and [[broccoli]]. The ''carciofo Brindisino'' and ''lenticchia di Altamura'' are respectively artichokes and lentils which have attained the PGI status from the EU.
Many vegetables are preserved with the ''sott'olio'' method, meaning 'under the oil'. First vegetables are boiled in white [[wine vinegar]]. After they are combined with spices and herbs they are placed in jars. The vegetables are then covered by filling the jar with olive oil, so that they are not in contact with air. This allows the vegetables to be preserved for up to year and also enhances their flavor.
[[File:Lampascioni.jpg|thumb|''Lampascioni'' preserved ''sott'olio'' in olive oil.]]
Apulian cooking also uses some less widely known vegetables. The [[Leopoldia comosa|tassel hyacinth]] grows widespread in the wild and is used for its bulb. Known as ''lampascioni'' in Apulia, these are usually boiled in water and seasoned with olive oil, vinegar, salt and black pepper. They can also be grilled or deep-fried.
The black chickpea (''ceci neri'') was consumed more often before the 1950s, but production dropped as it was replaced by more profitable crops and legumes with shorter cooking times. Today production is centered in the Murgia plateau. Because they have a stronger taste than the white variety, they are often just boiled in water and served with oil, possibly combined with a small type of pasta.
The [[Lathyrus sativus|grass pea]] (''cicerchia'') used to be popular in cookbooks of the 1600s, but has since fallen out of favor because the plant provides a limited yield. In recent times the crop has been rediscovered and is cultivated in the [[Altopiano delle Murge|Alta Murgia]] and the Salento. It is used in soups and stews.
=== Seafood ===
[[File:Scapece.JPG|thumb|''Scapece'' from Gallipoli is fried fish preserved in red wine vinegar with breadcrumbs and saffron.]]
Because it is a peninsula, Apulia has a long coastline and the sea is never far away. This has made seafood an important part of its cuisine. The large variety of seafood that is available includes [[sea bream]], [[octopus]], [[prawn]]s, [[oysters]], [[anchovies]], [[mussels]] and [[clams]]. The region has been compared with [[Japan]] for its love of raw fish.
One of the more popular dishes is ''[[tiella]]'', a slow-cooked dish layered with rice, potatoes and mussels. This version originates from [[Bari]], but there is plenty of local variation in the recipe, with different versions originating from [[Foggia]], [[Taranto]] and the Salento. Some of these don't even include seafood. ''[[Scapece]]'' is a fish dish from [[Gallipoli]] which is notable for its [[Middle East]]ern origin and preservation method. Similar to ''[[escabeche]]'', fish is fried and then preserved in red wine vinegar with breadcrumbs and [[saffron]] to greatly extend its shelf life. Some dishes use [[dried and salted cod]] (''baccalà''), one of the very few imported ingredients.
=== Meat ===
In the past meat was a scarcity due to its expense. For this reason, it is not an important component of the cuisine of Apulia. [[Beef]] was lacking almost entirely from the diet in the past, because cattle was used for farm work or reared for milk. It was slaughtered only when it was very old. Likewise, the prevalence of [[horse meat]] is explained by the slaughter of lame horses which were no longer able to work. [[Lamb and mutton|Lamb]], [[poultry]] and [[rabbit]] (often reared on farms) and to a lesser degree game were the main sources of meat. A farm used to raise a single pig, of which every part would be used when it was slaughtered. Some of its meat would be consumed directly, but most of it would be preserved as ham, sausages and ''salami''.
The Apulian recipe for ''[[ragù]]'' differs from the version prepared in other Italian regions. Traditionally it uses sun-dried tomato pulp (''conserva'') as a base, which is then fried in olive oil with some water, fresh tomatoes and optionally [[peperoncino|chili pepper]] and red wine. Then meat [[roulade]]s (''[[braciola|braciole]]'' or ''involtini'') are added, which can be used together with the sauce to dress pasta dishes. Apart from quality cuts of meat, there are also recipes which call for [[offal]] in the form of roulades and [[pig's trotters]].
=== Sweets ===
[[File:Torta pasticciotto con ripieno mandorle fichi.JPG|thumb|A ''torta [[pasticciotto]]'' filled with almonds and figs.]]
Apulia is not known for its sweet treats because its inhabitants generally prefer savoury foods. Sweets are traditionally reserved for festivals and religious holidays and share the plain character of its cuisine in general. The ingredients for sweets are influenced by the Middle East and include [[almond]]s, [[Common fig|figs]], [[hazelnut]]s, [[pistachio]]s and spices. The traditional sweetener is [[honey]], which is still frequently used. Fresh soft ricotta is used as well.
=== Wine ===
In 2017 Apulia overtook [[Veneto]] as the largest wine producing region in Italy, with a total production of 9.070.112 hectoliters. It has been producing grapes with a high alcohol content for ages, which were used by other regions in Italy and [[France]] for mixing with their own wines. Since the 1990s Apulian winemakers have started taking more risks and using more innovative winemaking techniques. Today it produces wines with many different indigenous grape varieties. The most well-known wine internationally is ''[[Zinfandel|Primitivo]] di [[Manduria]]'', but there are many other varieties such as the ''[[Negroamaro]]'', ''[[Bombino Bianco]]'', ''[[Pampanuto]]'', ''[[Verdeca]]'', ''[[Bianco d'Alessano]]'' and ''[[Susumaniello]]''.
== References ==
== Sources ==
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[[Category:Cuisine of Apulia]]
April 07, 2019 at 01:18AM
