INGANNA PRETI, meaning ‘fool the priest’, are from Bologna and Emilia-Romagna. It is a type of pasta shape that imitates stuffed pasta but have no filling. This was the pasta of those who could not afford the filling for cappelletti or tortellini.
So why call a pasta ‘fool the priest’? Romagna and Bologna were once part of the Papal State until the unification of Italy in 1861. Prior to the unification, poverty and famine was common for many families. During this time it was the job of the local priest to visit homes and collect the papal taxes. These visits would often coincide with meal times and it is said that the priest would choose the most favored of cooks to visit and expect to be fed.
Inganna preti are said to be an expression of the feelings felt by the peasants in the face of papal taxes. Therefore, the deception was reserved for the priest, with the expectation he would feel disappointment.
These little pastas are often served with a simple tomato sauce and some mascarpone.