Ever heard of abbacchio a scottadito? it’s finger-burning good. If you have, chances are you’ve already sunk your teeth into it with a big grin… and maybe even slightly scorched fingers. But where does that curious name come from? Spoiler: it’s got everything to do with eating fast—because if you wait too long, you’ve missed the moment. But that’s just the beginning. Get comfy—your stomach’s about to growl.
‘Scottadito’ means: eat it with your hands!
The name comes from the most Roman gesture there is: grabbing a sizzling lamb chop right off the grill—with your bare hands. And yes, it burns. But who can wait? That’s the beauty of it: eating it hot, with your hands, without a care for table manners. In fact, if you burn your fingers a little… it means you’re doing it right.
The recipe? no fuss, just flavor
Abbacchio a scottadito is a Roman classic. You take young lamb (that’s abbacchio), slice it into chops, marinate it with good olive oil, rosemary and garlic—and straight onto a blazing grill. Two minutes per side: enough for a crispy crust on the outside and juicy, tender meat inside.
Then it hits the table—no fancy plates needed. Everything ends up on your fingers anyway. And yes, we know what you’re thinking: Fonzies-style finger-licking? Exactly that.
Gigi Proietti and his eternal love for Scottadito
If anyone embodied Roman spirit in every sense, it was Gigi Proietti. A voice, a soul, a laugh, a poet—and, let’s be honest, a fork too. Gigi loved Roman food and wasn’t shy about saying so.
In his shows, interviews and stories full of humor and truth, he always showed his love for tradition, for things done right, for flavors that never go out of style. And among his favorites? Abbacchio a scottadito. A dish that’s pure theater—it enters sizzling, it’s eaten with your hands, burns your fingers, and makes peace with your soul.
So next time you bite into a proper scottadito, remember: in that moment, you’re acting out a scene too—on the Roman stage Gigi helped make eternal, with his art… and his fork.
Hungry yet? we won’t judge.
And after that lamb chop, you might crave a proper Roman first course. Like a creamy Cacio e Pepe, maybe paired with a chilled glass of Frascati DOC.
We even wrote about it here: Cacio e Pepe & Frascati DOC: the pairing you didn’t expect.
From stories to pairings… and the hunger only grows.
All of this, at velavevodetto
Already feeling hungry? Just wait till you walk into Velavevodetto. Here, Roman cuisine is a serious thing—done with respect, passion, and carefully selected ingredients.
Explore what’s coming off the grill and out of the kitchen, and choose the restaurant nearest to you.
You’re practically already inside the kitchen.
Don’t just hear about it. Taste it.
The real abbacchio a scottadito is served here: hot, delicious, and unapologetically eaten with your hands.
Forget the fancy spots. Come to Velavevodetto and discover once and for all what eating Roman-style really means.
Yes, you’ll burn your fingers. But you’ll never forget the flavor.
