Pasticcio di maccheroni

The Pasticcio di Maccheroni is one of the most iconic and representative dishes of Ferrara's food tradition. It presents itself as a pie with a sweet crust, filled with a savory filling made of pasta with a white ragù, bechamel, dried mushrooms, grated parmesan cheese, truffle and nutmeg.
The preparation is quite complex and it requires to cook the Pasticcio in the oven in a container of tinned copper, historical element in the recipe. Today there is also a variant that uses a savory crust.

This dish is considered to be a real heritage of the Renaissance taste: the contrast between sweet and savory and the choice to wrap various ingredients in a "protective" shell represent perfectly the culinary tendencies of the 16th century courts, who were careful to design and flavour balance.
With time it included both local and mediterranean culinary influences, taking its current shape.

Today the Pasticcio di Maccheroni is a symbol of Ferrara's cuisine and is made during festivities, celebrations and traditional menus, representing one of the most distinctive flavours of the local culinary heritage.

The Pasticcio ferrarese is part of the De.Co. recognition, which promotes the historical bond between Ferrara and the Pasticcio di Maccheroni, ancient specialty still very widespread today.