The Crescia is a popular flatbread in the Le Marche region, very similar to the piadina from Romagna. Ask any local what their favourite bread is, and they'll say "Crescia"!
The legend about the origin of the Crescia
How did Crescia come to be? According to legend, one fine day, the sun fell in love with the city of Urbino and descended from the sky to get a better view of it. But it descended so low that it got stuck between the towers of the Ducal Palace! As it tried to free itself, the sun produced sparks. This very image inspired a young baker, who shaped the dough to resemble the solar disc and made it so that it would rise (hence the name "crescia"), aspiring to soar high like the sun.
You can take this legend with a grain of salt, but one thing is certain: crescia is absolutely delicious!
Crescia
A typical Marche specialty from the city of Urbino
DifficultyEasy
Preparation time40m
Cooking time12m
Servings8
€
CostLow
Ingredients
- 1 kg "00" flour
- 650 ml water
- 25 ml extra virgin olive oil
- 5 gr salt
- 15 gr yeast
- A few sprigs of fresh rosemary
Method
- Dissolve the yeast in half a cup of hot (not boiling) water.
- On a wooden work surface, place the flour in the center, make a hollow in the center and pour in the water. Gradually incorporate the dissolved yeast.
- Then, add the oil and salt and begin to knead the mixture with your hands. When you achieve a smooth, soft dough soft dough that doesn't stick to your hands then it's ready.
- Form the dough into a ball, and cut a cross on the top with a sharp blade. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface, and cover it with a clean cloth. Leave to rest for about half an hour.
- Divide the dough into 7/8 balls, and roll each one to a thickness of 1 cm. These are your crescia breads!
- You can cook the crescia in a non-stick frying pan, or under the grill on a low heat.
- Heat the frying pan or grill; when hot, cook the crescia for 10/12 minutes each, turning them regularly to prevent burning.
- As soon as they are ready, wet the sprig of rosemary with a little olive oil and rub it on the hot crescia to serve.
Explore the best food experiences in Le Marche
Le Marche is a wonderful region, full of amazing places and delicious food. Check out the best food experiences you can enjoy in the region with our Cesarine… because the best place to discover Italian cuisine is in local homes!