Spongarda is a local cake with its origins in
Crema
Crema or Cremas may refer to:
Crema
* Crema, Lombardy, a ''comune'' in the northern Italian province of Cremona
* Crema (coffee), a thin layer of foam at the top of a cup of espresso
* Crema (dairy product)
Crema is the Spanish word for cream. I ...
.
The
Lombardy
Lombardy ( it, Lombardia, Lombard language, Lombard: ''Lombardia'' or ''Lumbardia' '') is an administrative regions of Italy, region of Italy that covers ; it is located in the northern-central part of the country and has a population of about 10 ...
Region includes it as ″''Spongarda of Crema''″ in the list of traditional food products.
Origin of the name
In Crema the name has been documented since 1755, but its origins date back to a kind of pastry quoted by a historian from Crema, Pietro Terni, for a feast in 1526, a soft and spongy cake, from the Latin ″''spongia''″.
Features
Spongarda is a flat cake, made of a compact dough, gently pinched and pierced on the sides and on the top. It has a rich filling stuffed with dried fruit, candied fruit and spices. The recipe refers to other cake in other regions, the Spongata of
Brescello
Brescello (; in the local dialect, in the Reggio Emilia dialect) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about northwest of Bologna and about northwest of Reggio Emilia. A ...
and the Spungata of
Sanzana
Sanzana is a village and rural commune in the Cercle of Sikasso in the Sikasso Region of southern Mali. The commune covers an area of 326 square kilometers and includes eight villages.. In the 2009 census it had a population of 11,214. The vill ...
are among the most famous. The origins of the filling date back to the
Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...
as regards the use of spices.
It is produced in bakery laboratories of Crema, being a complex pastry. In 2009 some of them got associated to the so-called
Congrega della Spongarda (Coven of Spongarda) in order to protect and promote its spread outside its original area.
Ingredients
It is prepared with flour, sugar, butter, honey, cinnamon, spices, almonds, walnuts or hazelnuts, raisin and candied fruit.
[Scheda spongarda di Crema] Some people crumble within a
mostaccino
Mostaccino ( lmo, moustasì, in the local dialect) is a spicy cookie typical of Crema, Lombardy, Italy. Mainly used in the preparation of the filling of tortelli cremaschi, it includes nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, mace, cilantro, star anise, black pe ...
(spicy biscuit of Crema used in
tortelli cremaschi
Tortelli cremaschi (dialect of Crema: ''turtèi cremasch'') represents the main dish of the local culinary tradition cremasca. While tortelli typically have a savoury filling, that of tortelli cremaschi is sweet and cannot be found elsewhere in I ...
) instead of using spices.
See also
*
Torta Bertolina
Torta Bertolina, also known simply as Bertolina, is a typical autumnal dessert from the northern Italian town of Crema. It is presented in a round shape, but it is often available cut into slices. It has a golden brown hue and the fragrance of t ...
*
Salva
*
Tortelli cremaschi
Tortelli cremaschi (dialect of Crema: ''turtèi cremasch'') represents the main dish of the local culinary tradition cremasca. While tortelli typically have a savoury filling, that of tortelli cremaschi is sweet and cannot be found elsewhere in I ...
References
{{Reflist
Cuisine of Lombardy
Italian desserts