PanGiallo Romano: what is it?

Roman yellow bread is a winter dessert that dates back to ancient Rome and brings with it the story of a people who celebrated the solstice d&' winter.

A sweet tradition

Called “yellow panel” for its golden color and its round shape, it was originally a symbol of good omen for the return of the sun during the darkest season of &' year.

With the advent of Christianity, this custom has been transformed into a Christmas tradition, adding sweetness to the celebrations.

The variants

The traditional yellow bread was obtained with a mixture of dried fruit, honey and candied citron.

After cooking, it was covered with a delicious batter d&' egg.

Roman housewives were known to dry summer fruit kernels such as plums and apricots to be used instead of expensive almonds and hazelnuts.

Today, yellow bread is available in numerous pastry shops and bakeries in Rome and in the Castelli Romani, with some variations that can also be found in other regions such as Ciociaria, Viterbo, Tuscany and Umbria.

In addition, over time, many variations of yellow bread have emerged, with some replacing the classic yellow icing with chocolate.

A famous variant is the “Pangiallo Viterbese”, which adds a touch of pepper, probably due to &' influence of the Umbrian “Panpepato”.

A dessert that resists time

Yellow bread may no longer be the most popular dessert, but it retains a tradition and flavor that stand the test of time.

Castelli Romani pastry shops continue to produce this delicious Christmas dessert, and many enthusiasts keep the tradition alive by preparing it at home to share it with friends and family during the holidays.

The ancient recipe

The origins of Roman yellow bread can be traced in a chapter dedicated to the desserts of &' ancient “De re Coquinaria” by Apicio, famous chef of &' era.

The recipe suggested a mix of honey, wine, raisins, rue, pine nuts, walnuts, d& #39 flour; barley and toasted nuts.

Traditional recipes also included spices such as saffron and black pepper.

Why is it yellow?

There are differing opinions about the source of the characteristic golden color of the upper layer of the yellow panel.

Some believe that the spices in &' mixture become more intense during cooking, giving the typical amber color.

Others suggest covering the yellow bread with a d& #39 batter; egg before cooking it, while still others believe that l&' adding saffron may intensify the color.

With an ancient history and an exceptional flavor, Roman yellow bread continues to delight tables during Christmas, carrying on a tradition that celebrates light and hope at the heart of & #39; winter.

Angela Cordioli

S&M