The ancient village of Staghiglione, located in the municipality of Borgo Priolo, is a small jewel of the Oltrepò Pavese area, renowned for its brasadè, typical local doughnuts. This confectionery speciality, belonging to popular tradition, is made from an unleavened cake dough composed of a few simple ingredients: type 00 flour, sugar, butter, lard and water. The particularity of brasadè lies in their baking, which involves a phase of boiling in water followed by baking. This process allows the product to keep its crunchiness for a long time.
Tradition and flavour
The recipe for brasadè is handed down from generation to generation and is a culinary treasure proudly guarded by the community of Staghiglione. Every year, on Easter Monday, the village celebrates a festival in honour of this delicacy during which brazadè tastings and sales are organised.
The tied doughnuts
What makes this confectionery tradition even more fascinating is the way in which the biscuits are presented: the doughnuts are tied together in necklaces, following a precise wrapping pattern.
Eleven brasadè are tied together by a cotton thread with five biscuits facing flat side up and five facing flat side down, with the eleventh acting as a clasp.
The sweet of the crowds
In the past, little girls wore brasadè necklaces as a precious ornament, but among poor people, the doughnuts were also a special gift that godfathers and godmothers offered to confirmands: a way to celebrate an important day with the flavour of tradition. For this very reason, brasadè were called the 'sweet of the crowds', as they represented a popular sweet that brought people together in a moment of celebration and sharing.
An ancient recipe guarded with love
Over the years, the custom of wearing brasadè hills has been lost, but the deliciousness of these sweets has continued to attract gourmands.
Today, Staghiglione's brasadè are appreciated not only during the Easter holidays, but also as a traditional sweet to be enjoyed at any time of the year. Their delicate flavour and crunchy texture are an irresistible lure for all those who love authentic gastronomic specialities with a unique taste.
Thanks to the passion and dedication of the residents of Staghiglione, the tradition of brasadè has been preserved over the centuries. Today, these sweets are a living testimony to the culture and identity of this small community in the Oltrepò Pavese area. Every bite of Staghiglione's brasadè is a journey.
The right combination
The marriage between Staghiglione's brasadè and a sweet wine is the best choice to enhance the flavour of the doughnuts. Such as a passito moscato, with its intense aroma and fruity hints whose aromatic nuances marry perfectly with the brasadè, creating the right taste balance. But there are also those who prefer to opt for a different, slightly more sparkling combination. In this case, the choice could fall on a sparkling Bonarda, a young and lively red wine that goes well with the flavours of the brasadè. This combination creates an interesting contrast between the consistency of the dessert and the effervescence of the wine.
Both choices provide a complete and satisfying sensory experience.
