Sagra d’la Panissa

Among rice fields stretching to the horizon and a territory rich in history and peasant culture, Caresanablot, in the heart of the Vercelli area, renews the appointment with the Panissa Festival every year. For over forty years, this event has celebrated one of the most representative and identity-defining dishes of Piedmontese gastronomic tradition. Panissa, a rustic, creamy and flavourful risotto, is the true banner of the festival. Prepared according to the traditional recipe with quality rice from the area (such as Arborio, Baldo or Carnaroli), the typical Saluggia beans, a sauté of onion and lard, and enriched with the characteristic salame della duja (a salami preserved under fat), all deglazed with a generous touch of full-bodied red wine, panissa is much more than a simple dish, it in fact embodies the agricultural soul of the Vercelli area. In addition to having the opportunity to taste authentic Vercelli panissa, cooked to perfection, the festival enriches visitors’ palates by offering, on the various evenings, other themed gastronomic specialities as well. Among these stand out the traditional fritto misto alla piemontese, fried fish and mixed grilled meats.