Mini flavor pillows

It's not a coincidence that I chose this name "pillows" for the subtitle, but you'll find out why just by reading about the history of southern Italy's most popular fried mass!
In addition, if you missed it, we have also written a very tasty alternative recipe for popizzas that you can easily replicate at home, all you need to do is click here.

Among city streets

The streets of Bari are very rich in history, and at every corner we can also find the passage of different peoples and traditions that have been handed down for generations.

At the time of our history, in fact, it was customary at Christmas time for the arrival of the “Zampognari” , who were so called because they played the reed bag (instrument very similar to a bagpipe).

Their songs echoed through the city streets, the sound of bagpipes was also accompanied by dances and tambourines.
It was a time of pure celebration for all the residents! Just try to imagine those moments, amid laughter, dancing, music and the festive air; it seems like going back to a little bit of childhood don't you think?

Our protagonist, a simple woman, was intent on preparing the mass to make bread when she heard in the distance the approach of the zampognari.
Caught up in the excitement she decided to look out the window to watch the musicians pass through the streets.
They were all perfectly lined up playing, red in the face from shortness of breath, but happier than ever.
Behind them here were those dancing and tambourine players, and more and more people were joining in!

Surely the housewife (We will call our protagonist that since her name is not knowncouldn't miss that party, so she decided to go down to the street to celebrate with them. When she returned, however, the mass had risen too much, and by then it was unusable for making bread.
However, without losing heart she found a solution.

She took a pot, added some oil that she had in the house and brought it to a boil, finally took the mass and made little balls that she threw into the oil. She waited for them to brown nicely and then gave them to her children, who were very intrigued by this new "Soft Bread.".

When they asked their mother, "E chis c son?" (and what are these), she noticing that they were very soft stated "U cuscin du Bambinell" (the pillow of the little child)

From that day on, the woman repurposed popizzas at Christmas time, selling them on the street, and even today you can find modern housewives devoting themselves to this passion!

And did you ever think that a bit of fried mass hides a story? 😊