Pan’ di Ramerino – Holy Thursday

rosemary and olive oil bread

Nowadays,  pandiramerino (translates into bread of rosemary) is slightly different if compared to the traditional version that was prepared only during lent and precisely on Holy Thursday.   Today Pandiramerino is eaten all year long and not only during lent, and we can say that it now falls under the sweets category.

In the past pan di ramerino was a large loaf – today it is shaped like smaller roundlike paninos. Being that it was prepared on a special occasion – it was a lot tastier and more pungent,  the rosemary was powdered and put in a pan with some olive oil, warmed up and mixed in with the dough – not in whole bits inside the bread.

Above all, no sugar and no sweet wine.

Traditionally during lent vendors would sell their loafs after they had been blessed inside the church. The crust of the bread was also signed by a cross that not only served as a religious symbol but as we all know also to help leaven the loaf.

Tomorrow I will post the recipe!