Barbagiuan

Name: Barbagiuan
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Monaco
Ingredients: 2 cups flour; 2 eggs; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 lb Swiss chard, cooked and chopped; 1 cup ricotta cheese; 1/2 cup Parmesan, grated; 1 onion, sautéed; 1/2 cup cooked rice; Oil for deep frying

8 servings40 min prep15 min cookMedium Monaco

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Barbagiuan

Story updated September 17, 2026

Barbagiuan, fried pastries stuffed with chard and rice, is considered Monaco's national dish and shares deep roots with the cooking of neighboring Nice, part of the same Niçoise culinary tradition that spans the border. Its name, in the local Monégasque dialect, is often translated as 'Uncle John.'

Ingredients

Scale:· 8 servings

2 cups flour
2 eggs
2 tbsp olive oil
1 lb Swiss chard, cooked and chopped
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan, grated
1 onion, sautéed
1/2 cup cooked rice
Oil for deep frying

Instructions

1Make a pasta-like dough with flour, 1 egg, olive oil, and a little water; rest 30 minutes.
2Mix Swiss chard, ricotta, Parmesan, remaining egg, sautéed onion, and rice for the filling.
3Roll the dough thin and cut into small squares.
4Place a spoonful of filling on each square and fold into a small rectangle, sealing the edges well.
5Heat oil to 350°F and fry the barbagiuan until golden and crisp.
6Drain on paper towels and serve hot.

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