What do you eat in Ferrara when the cold weather comes?

Pumpkin is a fil rouge that inextricably links Ferrara's gastronomic tradition to the terrirory. In ristroranti you can find a myriad of preparations from this ingredient. But what are the must-taste recipes? From stuffed cappellacci (caplàz in the local dialect), usually served with meat sauce or butter and sage, to creamy soups, pumpkin brings color and flavor to traditional Ferrara dishes. Don't forget to try "torta tenerina alla zucca," a dessert that will delight your palate with its soft texture and enveloping scent.

Cappelletti in broth is the best comfort food for those days when the cold weather sets in. It would almost seem that the more gray the sky is outside, the more you feel the different shades of the mouth-watering meat filling. A must-try dish during your winter visit to Ferrara, perhaps topped with a grating of Parmesan cheese!

Prepared with ground pork (in various fatty and lean cuts, such as capocollo, guanciale, etc...) and spices, it is cooked for a long time in gravy and served with mashed potatoes. It is a rich and hearty dish, ideal for fighting the winter cold.

This intensely flavored and strongly aromatic sausage has very ancient origins; in fact, it was a popular dish at the court of the Dukes of Este since the 16th century, becoming over time the dish par excellence for the people of Ferrara. We assure you that your palate will be grateful!

With this dish you will find a combination of flavors in which your palate will clash with both sweet and savory. It is composed, in fact, of a short (sweet) pastry crust filled with macaroni pasticciati with a white meat sauce, béchamel sauce, mushrooms, nutmeg and truffle, all baked on a special tin-plated copper dish.

With its domed shape with a flat base, it is a dark chocolate-covered cake. Each bite will be pleasing because of the gap of crispness on the outside and softness in the dough. The scent of this dessert, dominated by chocolate, also alternates with the aroma of spices, such as nutmeg and cinnamon, and will take you on a real gastronomic journey!

Chestnuts are a must for warming up in the cold months. In Ferrara, we recommend you try some small delicacies composed of chestnut flour. Start on the savory side with mistocchine, to be enjoyed hot and steaming, and end with tamplun, fried sweets covered in powdered sugar. Remember to enjoy them lukewarm in order to fully enjoy them!