Local food map Bologna (Italy)
Bologna guides
Recipes 12
Pick a recipe
All Bologna recipes
Mortadella with Focaccia — traditional dish from Bologna, Italy
Snack Meat

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥450kcal
💪20gProtein
🌾45gCarbs
🥑20gFat
🌿2gFibre
⚖️150 gServing

* Per serving · 150 g. May vary.

Allergens

🌾 Gluten

Mortadella with Focaccia

How to order / say it
Say it Mortadella con crescentina — [mor-tah-DEL-lah kon kreh-schen-TEE-nah]
Order I'd like the mortadella with focaccia, please.
Locally Vorrei la mortadella con crescentina, per favore.
Say locally

Thinly sliced sausage served with a type of flatbread.

Why try it?

This combination showcases Bologna's mastery in cured meats and traditional baking. It's a beloved snack that highlights the region's artisanal food heritage.

How it tastes

Mortadella is delicate and aromatic with a light peppery note, while crescentina is soft and slightly chewy, making for a comforting and satisfying bite.

Origin & History — first documented: 1500

Dating back to Roman times, mortadella became a staple in Bologna due to its flavorful and well-preserved nature, paired with crescentina traditionally enjoyed in local taverns.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🥩 150 g mortadella
  • 🌾 200 g flour
  • 🥕 100 ml water
  • 🌾 5 g yeast
  • 🫒 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 🧂 1 tsp salt

Method

  1. 1 Mix flour, yeast, water, salt, and olive oil to form dough.
  2. 2 Let the dough rise until it doubles in size.
  3. 3 Roll out the dough and bake until golden and soft.
  4. 4 Serve slices of mortadella with warm crescentina.

More from Bologna

Bologna-Style Cotoletta © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Bologna-Style Cotoletta

Cotoletta alla Bolognese
koh-toh-LET-tah ahl-lah boh-loh-NEH-zeh

A breaded veal cutlet topped with prosciutto and cheese.

Piadina © Wikimedia Commons
Street food Meat

Piadina

pee-ah-DEE-nah

Italian flatbread typically filled with meats, cheese, and vegetables.

Balsamic Vinegar of Modena © Wikimedia Commons
Condiment Vegan

Balsamic Vinegar of Modena

Aceto Balsamico di Modena
ah-CHAY-toh bahl-SAH-mee-koh dee MOH-deh-nah

Rich, aged vinegar with a complex flavor profile originating from Modena.

Green Lasagna © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Green Lasagna

Lasagne Verdi al Forno
lah-ZAHN-nyeh VEH-dee ahl FHOHR-noh

Layered pasta dish with green spinach pasta, meats, and béchamel sauce.

Tigelle © Wikimedia Commons
Bread Vegetarian

Tigelle

Tee-GEL-leh

Small, round, flatbreads, traditional from the Bologna mountains.

Tortellini in Broth © Wikimedia Commons
Soup Meat

Tortellini in Broth

Tortellini in Brodo
tor-tel-LEE-nee in BROH-doh

Pasta dumplings filled with meat, served in a clear broth.

Tagliatelle with Bolognese Sauce © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Tagliatelle with Bolognese Sauce

Tagliatelle al Ragù
tahl-yah-TELL-lay ah-l rah-GOO

Fresh pasta served with hearty ragù Bolognese.

🌿
Dessert Vegetarian

Bologna Fried Cream

Crema fritta
KREH-mah FREE-tah

Sweet custard squares, breaded and deep-fried.

Crescentine
Snack Meat

Crescentine

kreh-SEN-tee-neh

Fried dough rounds, often served with cured meats.

Bolognese Sauce © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Bolognese Sauce

Ragù alla Bolognese
rah-GOO ah-lah boh-loh-NYEH-seh

Slow-cooked meat sauce with tomatoes, wine, and herbs.

All Europe recipes — Italy — Bologna — Mortadella with Focaccia
keyboard_arrow_up