Fake tripe translates as ‘fake tripe’ and is a wonderfully delicious cucina povera recipe made with strips of omelette served in a delicious, veggie-packed tomato sauce with garlic and sage.
Trippa finta is a humble and delicious cucina povera recipe which mimics the look and texture of tripe using nothing more than strips of omelette.
Although tripe is known as an inexpensive cut of meat, it wasn’t always easy to come by, especially during times of extreme poverty and rationing, and so fake tripe (fake tripe) was born.
This recipe is really simple to make and has so much flavour. The key is to cook the sauté (carrot, celery and onion) slowly so it develops a lot of flavour. The veg should be nice and soft and not browned before adding the tomato.
Trust me, it makes such a difference when you take time with this step. You’ll notice a difference in both flavour and texture of the sauce.
Trippa Finta is delicious served as it is for a light lunch or dinner with some salad, or if you’re looking for a more substantial side dish, then Italian roast potatoes are a great option!
Ingredient Notes
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- Canned plum tomatoes – You can also use chopped tomatoes or Mutti ‘Polpa’.
- Sage – Instead of sage leaves, you can add fresh basil. Add the basil to the tomato sauce towards the end of cooking.
- Parmigiano Reggiano – Pecorino Romano also works really well.
Visual walk-through of the recipe
Step 1 – Heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan and add the finely chopped carrot, celery and onion. Saute the vegetables slowly on a medium heat for about 15 minutes until soft but not browned. If the veg starts to brown, add a little more oil and turn the heat down (photo 1).
Step 2 – Next, add the chopped garlic clove and 1 sprig of sage leaves, sauté the garlic for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add the canned plum tomatoes, swirl out any remaining tomato from the cans with a little water, and add that too. Add a good pinch of salt and pepper, then simmer the sauce for 30 minutes (photos 2-4).
Step 3 – Meanwhile, add the eggs to one bowl with half of the grated Parmigiano and a pinch of salt, whisk them together. Lightly grease a XX inch pan with butter and add the egg mixture. Swirl the eggs around the pan to create a flat omelette. Cook for 2-3 minutes then flip it over onto the other side (photos 5-7).
Step 4 – Transfer the cooked omelette to a plate, then make a second omelette with the remaining 3 eggs and cheese (photo 8).
Step 5 – Transfer the two omelettes to a chopping board and cut them into strips (you can roll them up to do this or just cut them into strips how you like (photos 9 and 10).
Step 6 – When the sauce is ready, add the strips of omelette and stir them into the sauce. Serve in bowls topped with grated Parmigiano Reggiano on top (photos 11 and 12).
Recipe tip! Crushing the tomatoes
You can crush the tomatoes in a bowl with your hands before adding them to the pan.
Alternatively, you can use a potato masher (my go-to method for sensitive hands).
More delicious cucina povera recipes to try
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Heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan and add the finely chopped carrot, celery and onion. Saute the vegetables slowly on a medium heat for about 15 minutes until soft but not browned. If the veg starts to brown add a little more oil and turn the heat down.
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Next, add 1 chopped garlic clove and 1 sprig of sage leaves, sauté the garlic for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Add the canned tomatoes (800g/28oz) swirl out any remaining tomato from the cans with a little water, and add that too. Add a good pinch of salt and pepper then simmer the sauce for 30 minutes.
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Meanwhile, add 3 eggs to one bowl with half of the grated Parmigiano (15g) and a pinch of salt, whisk them together. Lightly grease a 11-12 inch pan with butter and add the egg mixture. Swirl the eggs around the pan to create a flat omelette. Cook for 2-3 minutes then flip it over onto the other side.
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Transfer the cooked omelette to a plate, then make a second omelette with the remaining 3 eggs and cheese.
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Transfer the two omelettes to a chopping board and cut them into strips.
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When the sauce is ready, add the strips of omelette and stir them into the sauce. Serve in bowls topped with grated Parmigiano Reggiano on top.
- Prep ahead – you can prepare the sauce in advance and keep it stored in the fridge or freezer for up to 3 months.
- Storage – leftovers will keep well in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Helpful Info for All Recipes
- I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise
- When I use canned or jarred tomatoes of any kind I always use Cirio or Mutti brands for the best results and flavour.
- All vegetables are medium sized unless stated otherwise
- All recipes are tested and developed using a fan (convection) oven
- Find out more about how nutrition is calculated.
- Check out our must have Italian Pantry Staples.
- You can also find all our Essential Kitchen Tools for Italian Cooking.
Calories: 264kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 262mg | Sodium: 448mg | Potassium: 587mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 3371IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 118mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.