Skip to main content

Sweet Spaghetti Called Vermicelles

Vermicelles in a glass
Fall is approaching fast and the leaves on the trees are starting to change colors already. While some may lament the passing of summer, there are still many fun things to do during Fall in Switzerland. Most of the time, the weather is still nice and warm enough so that on a sunny day you can sit on your balcony enjoy a hot cup of coffee and something sweet.

And what would be more suitable to this fall season in Switzerland than a typical Swiss dessert like Vermicelles?

What is Vermicelles?

Vermicelles is a Swiss speciality dessert. It originated in the southern part of Switzerland called Ticino but now is loved by Swiss people all over. Like the hot marroni sold on the streets during fall and winter in Switzerland, Vermicelles are made mainly from chestnuts, with butter, sugar and Kirsch added to the mixture.

Edible Chestnut - Reni  / pixelio.de 

Vermicelles is sold in most supermarkets in Switzerland. It normally comes in big chunks of dough or paste that then must be pressed through a perforated sheet to create about 15 cm long "worms" of Vermicelles. This is where the dish most likely got its name from, since in Latin "vermiculi" means "worms". Personally, I prefer to say that they look like brown spaghetti.

How is Vermicelles served?

Whether in a restaurant or at home, Vermicelles is usually served in the classic spaghetti-like form with whipped cream and mxeringues and usually comes with a candied cherry on top. It is also quite common to serve Vermicelles in the form of a little pie on a biscuit crust. Many people also like a scoop of vanilla ice cream with their Vermicelles, as it contrasts nicely with the chestnutty taste of the Vermicelles.

Yet, Vermicelles can not only be enjoyed in the classic "worm"-form but also in cakes, pastries or other desserts. For example, marble cakes with Vermicelles are a delicious treat. There aren't any recipes in English for Vermicelles treats but you if you understand German you can try these Vermicelles Rezepte.

If you cannot buy Vermicelles in your local supermarket, which is likely the case if you do not live in Switzerland, then you can try to make your own after this Vermicelles recipe. No guarantees though!





© 2011 IRENE WYRSCH "A HUMOROUS GUIDE TO SWITZERLAND" ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, UPDATED AND REPUBLISHED AUGUST 2021

Labels:

Comments

  1. dimitriOctober 10, 2011 at 2:08 AM

    Vermicelles are my favorite! No, scrap that: Anything made from chestnuts is my favorite, with vermicelles leading the pack ;-)

    They're one reason to look forward to fall, so thank you for giving us this interesting background information!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

You have something to add or would like to ask a question? I would love to hear from you!

Popular posts from this blog

Schätzli, Schnüggel and Müüsli - Terms of Endearment in Swiss German

Kiss -  Oliver Haja  / pixelio.de If you've ever been invited to the home of a Swiss couple, you are probably familiar with the most popular Swiss German term of endearment "Schätzli" ('little treasure') or one of it's many varieties like e.g. "Schatz" or "Schätzeli" . Obviously, this is not the only pet name used by Swiss couples (or parents for that matter). Like many other languages, Swiss German offers a wide variety of words and phrases that you can use to address your loved one. Swiss German Terms of Endearment What most of these pet names have in common is the ending "-li" which basically turns the thing or person a word refers to into something small or cute. For example "Haus" means house and "Hüüs li " means small house. Plus, this ending "-li" can also be added to first names as a means of endearment, e.g. Benjamin li , Esther li or Fabienne li . I tried to come up with a colle...
4 comments
Read more

How to Say 'I Love You' in Swiss German

To be completely honest, I'm not very fond of hallmark holidays and Valentine's Day is probably the mothership of them all. In my home there will be no cheesy cards or flowers on that day and, personally, I'm happy about it. However, I know that there are many people who like to celebrate Valentine's Day and take it as an opportunity to show their love and appreciation to their loves. Even in Switzerland, there are plenty of people celebrating it nowadays. If you're short on ideas for this years Valentine's Day in Switzerland you might find some inspiration here: Valentine's Day in Switzerland . If you're already set and have the perfect date ready, how about surprising your loved one with a few romantic Swiss German phrases? You should know that the expression "I love you" has only recently made its way into Swiss German from the High German "Ich liebe dich". Swiss people used to simply say "I like you" or "I like ...
4 comments
Read more

How to Spot a Swiss Person

"You're not from here, right?!" These were the words the saleslady of a small clothes store on a busy Tel Aviv street directed at me a few years ago. I was surprised she had spotted my foreignness so easily. After having lived in Israel for a few years and mastered the local Hebrew, I thought I was able to blend in quite well by then. So, I asked her how she knew. She replied with a smile and said: "You nicely folded the clothes you tried on before bringing them back out!" Oh that! Something I assumed was 'normal' but, apparently, the locals didn't do that. My Swiss background gave me away.  A Stereotypical (Swiss) Person As an expat I can usually spot fellow expats right away even if at first they seem to fit right in. Be they Swiss people I encounter abroad or foreigners living in Switzerland. Mostly, I catch a word or a phrase in a foreign language or see clothes or other items that are clearly not local. Here in South America it's very easy t...
13 comments
Read more