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Molise

Molise is a region of Southern Italy. Molise is bordered by Abruzzo, Apulia, Lazio, and Campania. It has 35 km (22 miles) of sandy coastline to the northeast, lying on the Adriatic Sea looking out towards the Tremiti islands. The countryside of Molise is mostly mountainous. Molise had a population of 313,348 in 2015.

Molise

Featured Dishes from Molise

Maritozzo

Maritozzo

Sweet bun filled with cream, may also contain dried fruit, serve with cappuccino

Babà Napoletano

Babà Napoletano

Yeasted rum cake, serve with whipped cream, custard, strawberries, cherries

Bignè

Bignè

Cream puffs, cream filled pastries, commonly eaten on March 19, the feast of St. Joseph, Italy's Father's Day

Calcioni marchigiani

Calcioni marchigiani

Deep-fried pastries with a sweet filling made with ricotta or pecorino cheese, eggs, nuts, chocolate, lemon or orange zest

Chiacchiere

Chiacchiere

Fried pastry strips sprinkled with powdered sugar, common during Carnival

Cicerchiata

Cicerchiata

Mini fried pastry balls in honey

Cotognata

Cotognata

Ferratelle

Ferratelle

Thin waffle cookies or wafers

Graffe

Graffe

Yeasted doughnuts covered in granulated sugar, made with all-purpose flour and mashed potatoes

Krapfen

Krapfen

Jam- or cream-filled doughnuts

Mostaccioli

Mostaccioli

Christmas cookies made with mosto cotto (grape must), chocolate, gingerbread spices, there are several different variations of this cookie

Parrozzo

Parrozzo

Dome-shaped chocolate-covered almond cake, which is said to resemble a church dome, common during Christmas

Pastarelle molisane

Pastarelle molisane

Soft cookies made with lemon peel, commonly dunked in coffee or milk

Pastiera napoletana

Pastiera napoletana

Easter wheatberry and ricotta pie with citrus, vanilla and spices, can also be made with rice

Pepatelli

Pepatelli

Almond biscotti, made with honey, ground pepper, cocoa, orange zest, common during Christmas

Roccocò

Roccocò

Ring-shaped spice cookies made with citrus zest and almonds, common during Christmas

Taralli

Taralli

Twisted bread or crunchy breadsticks, crunchy or soft, savory or sweet, flavored with fennel, anise, wine, olive oil, coated in sugar

Zeppole

Zeppole

Doughnuts, may be filled with cream, jelly, custard, chocolate, butter and honey, common on St. Joseph's Day on March 19

Zuccotto

Zuccotto

Dome-shaped sponge cake with chocolate mousse, whipped cream, liqueur, candied fruit, toasted nuts

Biferno

Biferno

Crema di pondo

Crema di pondo

Orange and mandarin zest in alcohol with whipped sugar

Pentro

Pentro

Agnello al forno con patate

Agnello al forno con patate

Oven-roasted lamb and potatoes

Brodetto

Brodetto

Spicy seafood soup

Carciofi ripieni

Carciofi ripieni

Stuffed artichokes, filled with a mixture of breadcrumbs, anchovies, sausage, cheese, capers

Gnummareddi

Gnummareddi

Grilled meat rolls made with lamb and kid goat offal with herbs and spices, there are several variations

Lepre a ciffe e ciaffe

Lepre a ciffe e ciaffe

Marinated and stewed rabbit with wine, olive oil, onion, tomatoes, parsley, bay leaves, rosemary

Maccheroni alla chitarra

Maccheroni alla chitarra

Egg pasta, serve with a tomato sauce, often flavored with chilies, pork, lamb, goose

P’lenta d’iragn

P’lenta d’iragn

Polenta made with potatoes and wheat served with tomato sauce

Parmigiana di melanzane

Parmigiana di melanzane

Eggplant casserole with tomato sauce and cheese

Polenta alla molisana

Polenta alla molisana

Polenta topped with pork ragu and pecorino cheese

Polenta maritata

Polenta maritata

Polenta with sausage, cheese, chili peppers, butter

Polpi in purgatorio

Polpi in purgatorio

Spicy octopus stew with tomatoes, garlic, parsley and hot peppers

Vitellone bianco dell'Appennino centrale

Vitellone bianco dell'Appennino centrale

Chianina, Romagnola and Marchigiana cows and bullocks reared in Abruzzo, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Marche, Molise, Tuscany and Umbria, Italy

Zuppa di cardi

Zuppa di cardi

Thistle soup, common during Christmas

Arrosticini

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Arrosticini

Burrino

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Burrino

Pear-shaped stretched curd cheese with a butter center

Caciocavallo Silano

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Caciocavallo Silano

Semi-hard spun curd cheese made from cow's milk, from Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania and Molise, Italy

Fiadone

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Fiadone

Corsican cheese pastry, filled with a sweet cheese mixture

Maritozzo

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Maritozzo

Sweet bun filled with cream, may also contain dried fruit, serve with cappuccino

Mateca

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Mateca

Mela limoncella

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Mela limoncella

Molise

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Molise

Extra virgin olive oil made from Aurina, Gentile di Larino, Leccino and Oliva Nera di Colletorto olives, from Molise, Italy

Olive oil

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Olive oil

Pampanella

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Pampanella

Small cuts of pork with garlic and sweet and spicy paprika

Pecorino

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Pecorino

Peperoni al forno

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Peperoni al forno

Oven baked sweet peppers, for example, baked with vegetables, stuffed and baked

Ricotta di Bufala Campana

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Ricotta di Bufala Campana

Fresh milk product made from the milk of Mediterranea Italiana buffaloes, from Campania, Lazio, Apulia and Molise, Italy

Rustico

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Rustico

Savory pie made with mozzarella, tomato sauce, bechamel, cheese, vegetables, spinach, meat, sausage

Sagne e fagioli

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Sagne e fagioli

Tagliatelle pasta and beans in a thick soup or sauce made with tomato, onion, garlic, chili peppers

Salamini Italiani alla Cacciatora

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Salamini Italiani alla Cacciatora

Small minced pork sausages from Duroc, Landrace and Italian Large White pigs reared in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria, Tuscany, Marche, Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise, Italy

Salsiccia ferrazzanese

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Salsiccia ferrazzanese

Sausage with fennel and chilies

Scamorza

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Scamorza

Scrippelle

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Scrippelle

Crepes, used in scrippelle 'mbusse (crepes in broth) and timballo abruzzese (crepe lasagna)

Soppressata

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Soppressata

Sott'olio

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Sott'olio

Vegetables, fish, preserved in olive oil and vinegar, made with anchovies, tuna, artichokes, onions, chili peppers, dried tomatoes

Taralli

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Taralli

Twisted bread or crunchy breadsticks, crunchy or soft, savory or sweet, flavored with fennel, anise, wine, olive oil, coated in sugar

Ventricina

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Ventricina

Sausage made with pork, fennel and peperoncino

Cavatelli

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Cavatelli

Short, solid length pasta that exists in three sizes, usually measured in fingers (one, two or three), from Molise

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