Food traditions
Garda Trentino is special also when it’s time to eat; here, mountain and lake traditions melt all in one to create a unique culinary variety with a simple genuine taste. The seasons mark the rhythm of nature, and they also change the products we can taste.
We are living a “golden” September, still kissed by the sun and the mild temperatures. Autumn is just round the corner and the land bears fruit: grapes, pears, figs, plums (have you already tried the sweet POD plums from Dro?) mushrooms, chestnuts and other delicacies.
Knödel and co.
Knödel have always been the most typical dish in Trentino. The shore of this region lapped by Lake Garda doesn’t make exception and also here it is possible to taste these amazing “dumplings” (balote in our dialect – little balls) that vary in size and are usually served with melted butter and sage.
Autumn menu
The several restaurants participating in the project Menu Garda Ottobre d’Oro (Golden October Garda Menu) have created some proper autumn menus for you, using the products given by the land during this wonderful season. Among these, many include exactly the Knödel, and here we would like to give you the recipe of one of its variation. You will surely have fun preparing it at home!
INGREDIENTS (4 SERVINGS)
500 gr. fresh spinach or chards
250 gr. stale bread
a pinch of nutmeg and pepper
unrefined salt
2 eggs
1 fresh green onion
1 tbs flour
1 glass fresh milk
a pinch of Trentino grana cheese
50 gr. breadcrumbs
Chop the stale bread finely, pour some milk on it and let it soften up. In the meanwhile, steam the spinach briefly. Mince them and mix it with the soaked bread. Aside, melt the mountain butter together with the minced green onion and mix all together. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Sprinkle a little grated Grana cheese, and add eggs, flour and breadcrumbs. Get your hands in and mash and squish everything together, then divide the mixture into balls (as little as a nut). Cook in boiling salted water for 10/13 minutes. Drain and put them into a pan with the melted butter, add a lot of grated Grana cheese and some diced cherry tomatoes. Add basil if you like.
If you prefer the classical version, you can season the Knödel with melted butter and fresh sage.
Anyway, if you would like to taste the original Knödel and other delicacies made in Garda Trentino, the only thing you should do is choosing the restaurant you like most and… sitting down to taste a proper Menu Garda Ottobre d’Oro (Golden October Garda Menu)! Lunch (or dinner!) is served!
