Puff Pastry Fans with Piedmontese Alpine Butter

Ventagli di Pasta Sfoglia: Between Tradition and History

Ventagli di pasta sfoglia, also known as prussiane or girelle, are small pastries found throughout Italy, but they boast a very specific history and tradition. Their origins seem to trace back to the Arab countries, where as early as the 8th century, similar pastries made with puff pastry and honey were being prepared.

However, it is in France that these pastries take on the fan shape that characterizes them. Here, they were known as palmiers ("palms") or coeurs ("hearts") and were made in homes and pastry shops since the 17th century. Their spread in Italy is likely due to the influence of French cuisine, which over the centuries has had a significant impact on Italian gastronomy.

In Italy, ventagli di pasta sfoglia have taken on different regional variants, with differing names and recipes. In some areas, like Emilia-Romagna, they are known as girelle, while in Tuscany they are called orecchie di elefante. In Veneto, they are referred to as crostini, while in Sicily, they circulate under the name pizzette sfoglie.