Le ova' mpriatorio (eggs in Purgatory) is a traditional Neapolitan dish, the origins of which are lost in time. The recipe involves eggs cooked in tomato sauce so that the egg white turns red to symbolize souls in Purgatory struggling to escape from the surrounding flames. Variations of this simple but tasty dish abound all over Italy and are having a bit of a revival due to the celebrations of the 700th anniversary of the death of Dante Alighieri in 1321.
According to a popular legend, the Great Poet's favourite food was eggs. The story goes that he was sitting on his habitual stone outside the Cathedral in Florence when a passerby asked him what he enjoyed eating most and Dante replied “A boiled egg”. When the same person passed some time after, he asked: “With what?” And Dante answered “With salt”.
What the author of “The Divine Comedy” actually preferred to eat is unknown, however, Dante's alleged stone still sits against the south wall of the Cathedral and attracts many tourists. The “Stone” is actually a lump of rock, rather uncomfortable for sitting on. Probably there was actually a stone bench on the spot once upon a time.
M. Stenhouse
Info: www.portanapoli.com
