Mustacciuoli
{{Short description|Pastry from Naples, Italy}}
{{Distinguish|text=the similarly named type of penne}}
{{Italics title}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Mustacciuoli
| image = Mustacciuoli.jpg
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| alternate_name = Mustaccioli, mostaccioli
| country = Italy
| region = {{plainlist|
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| creator =
| course =
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| main_ingredient = Flour, almonds, chocolate, sugar, cloves, coffee, olive oil
| variations =
}}
Mustacciuoli, also known as mustaccioli or mostaccioli, is a pastry originating in the Naples region of Italy, usually served at Christmas time.
Description
Mustaccioli takes the form of a parallelogram, and consist of a soft, spiced, cake-like interior, covered in chocolate. In recent years, there are many variations of mostaccioli sold in Naples, where the chocolate glaze may be replaced by a white chocolate frosting or icing sugar and candied fruit.{{Cite book |last=Cremona |first=Luigi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qeHoUKfogVgC&pg=PA130 |title=L'Italia dei dolci |date=2004 |publisher=Touring Editore |isbn=978-88-365-2931-5 |language=it}}{{Cite web |date=2013-11-20 |title=Napoli: il Golfo sa di mustaccioli |url=https://www.lastampa.it/mare/2013/11/20/news/napoli-il-golfo-sa-di-mustaccioli-br-1.35958590/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=La Stampa |language=it}} Mustaccioli are often sold alongside other Neapolitan sweets including roccocò, raffiuoli, susamielli, and struffoli at Christmas time.
History
Neapolitan mostaccioli were mentioned by Bartolomeo Scappi, personal cook of Pope Pius V as part of his pranzo alli XVIII di ottobre (October 18 lunch).{{Cite web|url=https://www.unical.it/portale/varie/cena_rinascimentale/BScappi.htm|title=Vita e Opera di Bartolomeo Scappi|website=www.unical.it|access-date=2019-09-04|archive-date=2021-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108043723/https://www.unical.it/portale/varie/cena_rinascimentale/BScappi.htm|url-status=dead}}
Etymology
The term mustacciuoli derives from the Latin mustaceus and is prey to various paretimologies. Some say it derives from the Latin mustum, linked to the use of must in some ancient recipes as a sweetener.,{{cite web | url = http://www.lastampa.it/2013/11/20/societa/mare/focus/napoli-il-golfo-sa-di-mustaccioli-7KAKbgqR4a9z2TuUCIvvHM/pagina.html | title = Naples: the Gulf knows of mustaccioli | website = La Stampa | date = 20 November 2013 | accessdate = 6 July 2017}} others from mustax, which is a type of laurel. Originally, the mustaceum was a wedding cake, wrapped in bay leaves that gave aroma during cooking. Hence the proverb loreolam in mustace quaerere, that is: to look uselessly in the focaccia for burnt bay leaves. Another origin could derive from the ancient Greek μάσταξ (mástax) which means morsels, similar to μαστάζω (mastázō) which means to chew or eat.
Related sweets in other regions
See also
{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Portal|Italy|Food}}
References
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