''Pan minisc is a sweet from the

Basilicata it, Lucano (man) it, Lucana (woman) , population_note = , population_blank1_title = , population_blank1 = , demographics_type1 = , demographics1_footnotes = , demographics1_title1 = , demographics1_info1 = ...

region of Italy. It is made with

grape must Must (from the Latin ''vinum mustum'', "young wine") is freshly crushed fruit juice (usually grape juice) that contains the skins, seeds, and stems of the fruit. The solid portion of the must is called pomace and typically makes up 7–23% of th ...

flour Flour is a powder made by grinding raw grains, roots, beans, nuts, or seeds. Flours are used to make many different foods. Cereal flour, particularly wheat flour, is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many culture ...

and

sugar Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or double ...

Name

The origin of the name is uncertain: it could mean 'grape bread' or 'mixed bread', and the pronunciation varies depending on the region, as does the name (it is also known as ''farinata'', and in

Avigliano Avigliano ( Lucano: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Potenza, in the southern Italian region of Basilicata. Geography Overview The area surrounding Avigliano is considered mountainous with elevations varying between . Town's ...

and

Potenza Potenza (, also , ; , Potentino dialect: ''Putenz'') is a ''comune'' in the Southern Italian region of Basilicata (former Lucania). Capital of the Province of Potenza and the Basilicata region, the city is the highest regional capital and one ...

it is called ''paparotta''). Traditionally associated with the grape harvest, it was an important source of energy for farmers when they had to face strenuous days of work.

Preparation

The grape must is brought to a boil in a pot over low heat, and once removed from the fire, it is mixed with

durum wheat Durum wheat (), also called pasta wheat or macaroni wheat (''Triticum durum'' or ''Triticum turgidum'' subsp. ''durum''), is a Polyploid, tetraploid species of wheat. It is the second most cultivated species of wheat after common wheat, although ...

flour, sugar and spices. Put back on the heat, the mixture is continuously stirred until it thickens. Then, it is spread out on a plate to cool down and, finally, served. ''Pan minisc can be enjoyed either as a spoon dessert or cut into small portions and eaten with hands, depending on the desired consistency of the final product. In various variations, both black and white grapes, or both, can be used, resulting in different colours (ranging from pinkish to purplish) and slightly different flavours (either sweeter or more sour). In Avigliano, the grape must is flavoured with cinnamon and/or cloves, while in other areas such as Val d'Agri, pine nuts, chestnuts, raisins or dried figs may be added.

References

{{Reflist Italian desserts Cuisine of Basilicata Grape dishes

Name

Preparation

See also

References