Nonina kanavaca

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Nonina kanavaca is a unique Istrian dish that is prepared as a savory strudel filled with spinach, prosciutto, garlic, ground beef, eggs, and cheese. The word kanavaca is derived from the Italian word canavaccio , which means kitchen cloth , referring to an unusual way in which this dish is made. The dough is prepared with flour, eggs, salt, and a bit of water. It is then thinly rolled and filled with a combination of shortly boiled spinach, prosciutto pieces, garlic, sautéed ground beef, eggs, and grated cheese. The strudel is rolled to resemble a snail, and is then placed in the kitchen cloth. The cloth is tied into a knot, and a wooden kitchen spoon is traditionally inserted through the knot so that the whole thing can be placed over a pot filled with boiling water. After the dish has been properly cooked, it is taken out of the kitchen cloth, sliced, and topped with a flavorful tomato sauce consisting of onions, garlic, water, tomatoes, and fresh herbs. It is recommended to garnish the dish with grated parmesan and pair it with a glass of red wine.