LA FOCACCIA DI RECCO
An ancient legend tells that when the beach of Recco was a landing site for Saracen pirates in the 1500s and 1600s, the soldiers of the old Genoese fort fired cannon shots and a few musket volleys to alarm the population.
The able-bodied men lined up for defense. Women, old people, and children hastily fled to the hills to avoid falling into the hands of the pirates and ending up as prisoners on the African shores.
To survive for at least a few days, they carried with them a little flour, a few handfuls of salt, and a little oil—all essentials that were never lacking in any home.
Once safe in the hills, the women kneaded the flour with stream water, adding a little salt and oil.
Meanwhile, the elders gathered firewood from the forest and lit a fire, careful not to smoke. Rustic slate slabs would be placed on the embers, supported by stones, and heated up. Others would contact local farmers, with whom they would exchange a little oil and salt for cheese. At this point, the women were able to make focaccia enriched with cheese.
They rolled out the dough into very thin sheets, placed pieces of soft cheese on top, and covered it with another equally thin sheet of dough, on which they sprinkled a few drops of oil and salt.
Using two fingers, they pinched the dough and poked a few holes in it to release the moisture produced by the dough and cheese during cooking.
With a quick, expert gesture, it was placed on the red-hot slate, where it cooked in just a few minutes.
A simple, tasty meal, conceived in an emergency situation to feed a terrified population, who were waiting for the signal to end the emergency before returning to their homes.
Thus was born the famous Recco cheese focaccia, a unique, radiant product.
Italy is a country of centuries-old customs, and traditions, even millennia old. All of this has contributed to a unique cultural heritage.
Come discover it through its language.
Study Italian in Italy 