The Veronese Carnival is one of the oldest traditions in Italy, with origins dating back to 1531. It begins immediately after Epiphany and reaches its peak on Venerdì Gnocolar, the Friday before Mardi Gras.
Friday Gnocolar and the tradition of gnocchi
Gnocchi Friday is the symbolic day of the Verona carnival, celebrated with the parade of allegorical floats that cross the city center and the San Zeno district, where this festivity originated.
The day ends with the traditional distribution of Veronese gnocchi, a symbol of abundance and a return to well-being. This custom is still very much alive and, even today, gnocchi are the main dish on Veronese tables during carnival, offered in numerous variations in the city's restaurants.
Gnocchi: the symbolic dish of the Veronese Carnival
Gnocchi is a simple recipe but one that requires attention to preparation times:
- Basic ingredients: boiled potatoes, flour and an egg.
- After being kneaded, the gnocchi are passed over the prongs of a fork, so that they can better retain the sauce.
The most common condiments
Gnocchi can be seasoned in different ways:
- Tomato sauce
- Meat sauce
- Melted gorgonzola
- Butter and sage
- Sugar and cinnamon (a sweet variation typical of some areas)
- Pastissada de caval (the historic Veronese dish made with horse meat stewed in Amarone wine)
The sweets of the Veronese Carnival
In addition to gnocchi, the carnival is accompanied by a great variety of fried sweets, in line with the "fat" period. Traditionally, the highlights of the festival are Fat Thursday and Shrove Tuesday, so the recipes can't be dietetic!
Frittelle and Galani: the sweets of the Venetian Carnival
- Venetian fritters (Fritole): Prepared with a batter of eggs, flour, milk, raisins, pine nuts and sugar, they are fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar. There are also rice fritters, flavored with sugar and cinnamon.
- Galani: Thin strips of dough made with flour, eggs, liqueur, sugar and butter, fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar. They used to be fried in fat instead of oil.
Carnival and the Italian gastronomic tradition
Carnival is a festival that combines tradition, history and gastronomy. Each Italian region has its own typical dishes, and in Verona, gnocchi and fried sweets are a real treat for gourmets and tourists in search of authentic flavors.
Information
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