View source for Pinca

{{Short description|Variety of Easter bread}}

{{Infobox prepared food
| name             = Pinca 
| image            = Pinza triestina.jpg
| image_size       = 300px
| caption          = 
| alternate_name   = Osterpinze, sirnica, pinza
| country          = [[Croatia]], [[Montenegro]], [[Slovenia]], [[Italy]] 
| region           = [[Dalmatia]], [[Bay of Kotor]], [[Istria]], [[Gorizia]], [[Province of Trieste|Trieste]]
| creator          = 
| type             = [[Sweet roll]]
| served           = 
| main_ingredient  = [[Flour]], [[Baker's yeast|yeast]], [[raisin]]s, [[Zest (ingredient)|zest]]
| variations       = Titola, pupa, colomba, and jajarica
| calories         = 
| other            = 
}}

'''Pinca''' (also '''pogača''', '''sirnica''' or '''pinza''' or '''Osterpinze''') is a variety of [[Easter bread]] native to [[Italy]], [[Croatia]], [[Slovenia]] and [[Austria]]. It is particularly popular in [[Istria]], western [[Croatia]] in parts of the [[Province of Trieste]] and the historical region of [[Dalmatia]], the [[Goriška]] region of [[Slovenia]], the [[Slovenian Littoral]], southern [[Austria]] and [[Gorizia]] of [[Italy]].<ref>[http://www.istrianet.org/istria/gastronomy/osteria/pinza.htm Pinca on Istrianet.org]</ref>

In Italy, it is called ''pinza triestina'' to distinguish it from [[Pinza (dessert)|Venetian ''pinza'']] and ''[[pinza bolognese]]''.

==Description==
It is a sweet bread loaf with the sign of a cross, which is carved in with a knife before baking, on the upper side.

==Usage==
Pinca is eaten to celebrate the end of [[Lent]], because it contains many eggs. Together with [[Easter egg]]s, pinca has remained the centrepiece of the family Easter breakfast in areas where it is eaten. In urban areas it is increasingly the only item taken to Easter [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] for blessing, and is often given to guests as a symbol of good wishes.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Montenegrin cuisine]]
[[Category:Slovenian desserts]]
[[Category:Croatian desserts]]
[[Category:Easter bread]]
[[Category:Yeast breads]]
[[Category:Italian desserts]]


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