• Food & Wine

Malfatti: a culinary delight from the Oltrepò Pavese

Malfatti are a delicious gastronomic specialty that tells the story and traditions of a region rich in unique flavors: the Oltrepò Pavese. Here, for generations, the recipe for malfatti has been carefully preserved, passed down through families, maintaining the authenticity and essence of a cuisine that speaks of love for the land and culinary traditions.

For those unfamiliar, malfatti are soft, delicate green gnocchi made with fresh Swiss chard, white flour, and ricotta. This blend of ingredients gives malfatti their unique and irresistible flavor.

A Celebration in Every Bite

Malfatti are much more than a tasty dish. They symbolize conviviality and love for culinary heritage. Preparing malfatti as a family becomes a special occasion where people gather around a table in a festive atmosphere.

Making malfatti requires time, but every moment spent in the kitchen is an opportunity to share precious moments with family and friends. During the preparation, conversations flow, family secrets are shared, and traditional cooking tips are passed down. It’s a way to celebrate the roots and identity of a community that has learned to value the produce of its land.

Each Malfatto is Unique

The preparation is simple but requires care. Swiss chard is boiled and finely chopped, then mixed with white flour and ricotta to create a soft, velvety dough. At this point, the skillful hands of the cook shape the malfatti one by one with gentle, precise movements. True to their name—meaning "badly made"—each malfatto takes on an irregular oblong shape, with no two looking exactly alike.

Once shaped, malfatti are boiled in salted water until they float to the surface, a sign they’re ready to enjoy. Their rustic, homemade appearance makes them an irresistible dish, both for the eyes and the palate. Malfatti’s delicate texture pairs perfectly with various sauces, allowing you to choose your favorite. Traditionalists often opt for butter and sage or a simple homemade tomato sauce enriched with fresh basil and a generous sprinkle of Grana Padano.

A Story of History and Tradition

Throughout history, the struggle against hunger and food scarcity inspired people to find creative ways to meet their nutritional needs, turning humble ingredients into delightful dishes.

The surrounding fields and countryside were a precious source of herbs and raw materials that could be transformed in the kitchen. Herbs like Swiss chard, wild chicory, dandelion, and other foraged greens, abundant in rural areas, became the main ingredients of malfatti. These were combined with other simple, readily available components such as stale bread, eggs, and cheese.

The composition of malfatti could vary depending on the seasons and available ingredients. In summer, fresh, crisp greens like dandelion were often used to add a refreshing touch to the dish. In winter, sturdier leafy greens like Swiss chard were preferred.

A Dish That Connects Past and Present

Malfatti are a celebration of ingenuity and tradition, embodying the resourcefulness of a community that turned modest ingredients into a symbol of culinary pride. Each bite is a connection to the past, a tribute to the land, and a reminder of the warmth of shared moments at the table.

(Fonte: https://www.startoltrepo.it)
Take me here: Malfatti: a culinary delight from the Oltrepò Pavese

See also

La Paciada dei Malfatti

Fortunago PV
14/08/2024
  • Food & Wine
La Paciada dei Malfatti

On the same topic

Cencerate Potatoes

Questa patata di ottima qualità è prodotta ancora in piccole quantità nella frazione del comune di Brallo di Pregola
  • Food & Wine
Cencerate Potatoes

Zuppa Pavese Recipe

The pavese soup, taste of old dishes, those that were born from the few ingredients available
  • Food & Wine
Zuppa Pavese recipe, a soup fit for a king

Bagnaria Cherries

The Cherry of Bagnaria is part of the important network of the National Association of "Cities of Cherries."
  • Food & Wine
Bagnaria Cherries

Peperone di Voghera

The Voghera pepper is a native and valuable variety that deserves special attention for its unique organoleptic characteristics.
  • Food & Wine
Peperone di Voghera

Hunting for truffles, the diamonds of the Lombardy table

From the most prized - the white truffle, to the black summer truffle or Scorzone, the marzuolo, the black Trifola and the black uncinato: also in Lombardy you can find delicious truffles, which are appreciated in restaurants all over the world
  • Food & Wine
Hunting for truffles, the diamonds of the Lombardy table

Il Butalà

A dish from the Pavia Apennines featuring Deco Brallo potato gnocchi and Menconico black truffle.
  • Food & Wine
Il Butalà

Torta Paradiso

The iconic dessert of Pavia's tradition
  • Food & Wine
Torta Paradiso

Voghera Golden Onions

The golden onion was already cultivated in the 19th century in the countryside around Voghera.
  • Food & Wine
Voghera Golden Onions

Pavese Rice

The province of Pavia, Italian rice capital!
  • Food & Wine
Risotto

Risotto e rane

Risotto with frogs, a symbolic dish of the Lomellina tradition
  • Food & Wine
Risotto e rane

Molana del Brallo

La Molana del Brallo è un formaggio a pasta cruda, molle, da fresco a breve stagionatura
  • Food & Wine
Molana del Brallo

Il Polentone di Retorbido

The beautiful spring festival dedicated to the wise farmer Bertoldo
  • Food & Wine
Polentone di Retorbido

Malfatti: a culinary delight from the Oltrepò Pavese

Piatto della tradizione contadina dell’Oltrepò Pavese
  • Food & Wine
Malfatti: a culinary delight from the Oltrepò Pavese

Cotechino pavese

A traditional peasant's delight
  • Food & Wine
Cotechino pavese

Oltrepò Pavese

Good food, excellent wine, medieval villages. The Oltrepò Pavese surprises and conquers with its charm.
  • Food & Wine
Oltrepò Pavese, a borderland triangle

Asparago rosato di Cilavegna

Asparagus has been cultivated for over five hundred years in the vast agricultural area surrounding Cilavegna
  • Food & Wine
Asparago rosato di Cilavegna

Varzese Breed Meat

The Varzese is the only native cattle breed of Lombardy
  • Food & Wine
Varzese Breed Meat

Oltrepò Pavese, le Vie del Gusto

The tranquil Oltrepò is the home of 36 DOC-certified wines, which accompany a traditional cuisine with its roots in Italy’s remote history
  • Food & Wine
Salame di Varzi

La schita dell’Oltrepò Pavese

A treasure of rural tradition
  • Food & Wine
La schita dell’Oltrepò Pavese

Agritourism in Pavia: where you feel ‘naturally’ at home

Dove è naturale sentirsi a casa
  • Food & Wine
Agritourism in Pavia: where you feel ‘naturally’ at home