Verified in 2 cities.
Gnocco fritto is Emilia's puffed pillow of fried bread dough, served hot with a board of mortadella, prosciutto di Parma, salame and squacquerone; in Italy we have verified places to eat it in Bologna and Modena.
Gnocco fritto is Emilia's puffed pillow of fried bread dough, served hot with a board of mortadella, prosciutto di Parma, salame and squacquerone. Eat warm, pulled apart with the hands.
Gnocco fritto, also known as crescentina fritta or torta fritta depending on the Emilian sub-region, has been a peasant tavern food since the 16th century. The dough is lard-enriched yeast bread, rolled thin and deep-fried in lard or oil, served immediately while it still puffs. In Bologna and Modena it is served as antipasto with the salumi board; in Reggio Emilia it is wrapped around the meat. The dish travels with the local wine, Lambrusco, which the bubbles in the gnocco are said to imitate. Diana, Trattoria Anna Maria, La Vecchia Scuola Bolognese and many neighbourhood osterias serve it; the fresh-fried version arrives hot enough to burn fingers.
Where to eat in Bologna:
Where to eat Gnocco fritto in Bologna: the editor picks
Gnocco fritto is Modena's puffed fried dough, made with flour, lard and sparkling water, cut into diamonds and eaten hot with prosciutto, salame, mortadella and soft cheese.
Gnocco fritto belongs to the Po plain of Modena and Reggio Emilia, where it is listed as a traditional regional product; Bologna calls the same thing crescentina, Parma torta fritta. The Modenese recipe uses 00 flour, lard, sparkling water and salt with no yeast: the dough is kneaded again every 20 to 30 minutes so it traps air and swells when fried. Some sources read the lard as a sign of a Lombard origin.
Where to eat in Modena:
Where to eat Gnocco fritto in Modena: the editor picks
Day trip · 10 hours
Do not miss this one-of-a-kind tour. In one day, you will visit the best production Italy can offer: a prosciutto factory, a Parmigiano Reggiano dairy producer, and a ...
Guided tour · 2 hours
Indulge in Italy’s food capital! Choose our deep-dive 3-hour feast for locals' favorites, or our punchy 2-hour express tour for iconic bites and wine. Savor pasta, age...
2 hours
Enjoy a fun pasta cooking class in a local home with a certified home cook. Learn local recipes and taste everything you make with some delicious wine.
