Strozzapreti

Strozzapreti ("priest choker" or "priest strangler" in Italian) are an elongated form of cavatelli, or hand-rolled pasta typical of the Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Marche and Umbria regions of Italy as well as in the state of San Marino. The name is also used for a baked cheese and vegetable dumpling, prepared in some regions of Italy and on the French island of Corsica.
Origin of name
There are several legends to explain the name, primarily based on the anticlerical sentiment of the region.
One is that gluttonous priests were so enthralled by the savory pasta that they ate too quickly and choked themselves. Another explanation involves the "azdora" ("housewife" in the Romagna dialect), who "chokes" the dough strips to make the strozzapreti. The azdora would express rage (perhaps triggered by the misery and difficulties of her life) and curse the local clergy, resulting in a pasta that could choke a priest. A third states that wives would customarily make the pasta for churchmen as partial payment for land rents (In Romagna, the Catholic Church had extensive land properties rented to farmers), and their husbands would be angered enough by the venal priests eating their wives' food to wish the priests would choke as they stuffed their mouths with it. The name surely reflects the diffuse anticlericalism of the people of Romagna and Tuscany.
Another possible explanation is that following Sunday mass, it was common for the priest to visit homes of the villagers and enjoy dinner with them. The more pleasant experiences for the priest would entice them to come back to that particular home more frequently. As a means for the family to let the priest know that he might be overextending his welcome, they would serve this pasta which had later earned the name "Strozzapreti." Another origin story is that the pasta resembles a clerical collar, commonly referred to as a "Priest Choker".
Description
The name strozzapreti can refer either to a fresh pasta type or to a gnocchi type.
Pasta types
In the cuisine of Romagna strozzapreti are short twisted cords obtained by hand from water and flour pasta. In the countryside between Faenza and Lugo, strozzapreti col nodo are widespread, obtained by knotting each piece of pasta after twisting it on itself.
In the cuisine of Imola and Ravenna between the end of the 1800s and the middle of the 1900s, strozzapreti were called "suffocated priests", a terminology that has since disappeared, and were slightly larger.
In Emilia the dough is made from flour, water, Parmesan cheese, and egg whites, all beaten together.
In Umbrian cuisine with the term strozzapreti or strangozzi is meant a long pasta with a square section made of water and flour.
In the Latium cuisine the strozzapreti are spaghettoni pulled by hand. In the area of Viterbo, the stratto is a handmade pasta, typical of the town of Blera, seasoned with tartufi.
In the city of L'Aquila in Abruzzo the strangolapreti are big cords of pasta of Triticum durum long about 20 cm.
Pici is a somewhat similar form of pasta from Tuscany in which hand-rolled, solid fat tubes of dough are cut but left untwisted; the taut, rope-like appearance provides yet another popular explanation for the association with strangling.
The dough (see some regional variations below) is rolled out in thick flat sheets. It is then cut into strips. The strips are lightly rolled or twisted between the palms. The large pasta is separated into 10 cm pieces by pinching. Unlike spaghetti or macaroni, this pasta is not uniform in size or shape.
Gnocchi types
In the Trentino cuisine and in the Milanese cuisine the strangolapreti are gnocchi made of stale bread, spinach, eggs and grana cheese from Trentino, served with melted butter and sage. In Milanese and Larian cuisine, soft cheese is also added.
In the Neapolitan cuisine with the term strangulapriévete are designated simple gnocchi, made at home with water and flour.
In the Salentine cuisine with the term strangulaprevati are meant the potato dumplings.
In the Calabrian cuisine the strangugliapreviti are dumplings made of flour and eggs; in the nicastrese tradition they are the dish of Martedi' Grasso.
In the Corsican cuisine the name "sturzapréti" refers also to large gnocchi made of cheese and vegetables, and then baked. Seasoned spinach or chard is rolled into balls together with brocciu cheese, and then baked in the oven. These balls are large enough to choke a person if eaten whole.
Notes
Bibliography
Types of pasta
Cuisine of Emilia-Romagna
Cuisine of Umbria
Corsican cuisine
Neapolitan cuisine
Cuisine of Calabria
Cuisine of Lazio
Cuisine of Apulia
Cuisine of Lombardy
Cuisine of Abruzzo
Cuisine of Trentino