''Vastedda'' () is the traditional
Sicilian bread
Bread is a baked food product made from water, flour, and often yeast. It is a staple food across the world, particularly in Europe and the Middle East. Throughout recorded history and around the world, it has been an important part of many cu ...
used to prepare the ''
pani câ meusa'', a sandwich of
veal
Veal is the meat of Calf (animal), calves, in contrast to the beef from older cattle. Veal can be produced from a calf of either sex and any List of cattle breeds, breed; however, most veal comes from young male calves of Dairy cattle, dairy b ...
spleen
The spleen (, from Ancient Greek '' σπλήν'', splḗn) is an organ (biology), organ found in almost all vertebrates. Similar in structure to a large lymph node, it acts primarily as a blood filter.
The spleen plays important roles in reg ...
. It often also includes ''
caciocavallo
() is a type of ('stretched-curd') cheese made out of sheep's or cow's milk. It is produced throughout southern Italy, particularly in the Apennine Mountains and in the Gargano peninsula. Shaped like a teardrop, it is similar in taste to the ...
'' and
ricotta
Ricotta () is an Italian whey cheese made from sheep, cow, goat, or Italian water buffalo milk whey left over from the production of other cheeses. Like other whey cheeses, it is made by coagulating the proteins that remain after the casein h ...
toppings. ''Vastedda'' is most common in the city of
Palermo
Palermo ( ; ; , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The ...
.
In
Gratteri, near Palermo, a fried version called ''vastedda fritta'' is also prepared. The ''vastedda fritta'' is recognized by the
Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry as a (PAT) and is listed on the official list of traditional Italian agricultural and food products.
[See]
list of traditional Italian agricultural and food products
Sicilian cheese
The term ''vastedda'' or ''vastella'' in
Sicilian indicates also different traditional types of
cheese
Cheese is a type of dairy product produced in a range of flavors, textures, and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk (usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats or sheep). During prod ...
such as ''Vastedda della Valle del Belice'' and ''Vastedda Palermitana'', which are listed as by the
Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry.
See also
* ''
Pani câ meusa''
References
{{Street food
Cuisine of Sicily
Italian breads
Italian cheeses
Street food in Italy