So, you have found a perfect vacation rental in Sicily and you are looking forward to enjoying the incredible beaches, ancient towns and astounding archaeological sites, the pretty villages and fascinating towns, the excellent hiking trails and natural splendour, and all that the island has to offer. As you explore and wander, you might work up an appetite or, perhaps, eating is, itself, a key activity that you are looking forward to. Either way, you will want to delve into the cuisine of Sicily.
While Sicily is part of Italy and you can expect many of your favourite and familiar fixtures of Italian cuisine on offer in eateries throughout the island, there are also plenty of regional treats and specialities that you won’t want to miss. Sicily has its own distinct culture, heritage, and flavours and diving into them is a key part of any vacation in Sicily!
The varied cultures that have occupied the island throughout history have left traces in the landscape as well as in the cuisine – from other Italian kingdoms like Genoa, to the ancient Romans, to the Arab rulers of the Middle Ages – and this means that sometimes interesting ingredients and unexpected twists can be found at the dinner table in Sicily. Pair this with all sorts of interesting wines and a regional sweet tooth that has produced many of Italy’s most famous and beloved desserts (as well as many you will likely have never heard of before) and you have a truly fascinating and delicious local culinary heritage to dive into!
To help you out – because we always like to think about what we’re going to eat and plan it ahead of a holiday – we thought we would put together a glossary of just some of the foodie words and terms you might want to keep in mind and dishes that you should know about. Here’s our A-Z of eating while enjoying a stay in one of our villas in Sicily…
A familiar dish to many, often served as a snack or as a starter, arancini are rice balls that are coated with breadcrumbs and then deep-fried. They can have various fillings and are found in other parts of Italy but are said to date back to the era of Kalbid rule in 10th century Sicily. Satisfying and delicious, don’t miss out on these hearty treats!
Caciocavallo Ragusano
Sometimes just called Ragusano (the “caciocavallo” part needed to be dropped in order for it to receive a DOP designation), this is a kind of stretched-curd cheese and a local variety similar to mozzarella.
One of the most famous and beloved Sicilian desserts, cannoli are tube-shaped shortcrust pastry shells that are filled with ricotta and various other fillings. Utterly indulgent and always tastier in Sicily itself, they are a must-try for foodies who are relaxing on holiday in Sicily.
Another must for foodies with a sweet tooth who book a holiday rental in Sicily, Modica’s famous and ancient chocolate is still made according to an original recipe dating back centuries and has a distinct grainy texture and aromatic flavour. A great souvenir to bring home to the neighbour who watered your plants while you were away!
Crocchè
Very like the French croquette, these tasty little snacks are made of mashed potato that is covered in breadcrumbs and deep-fried – some serious comfort food.
Frittula
A street food stable, this dish comes from Palermo and is made of pork and/or beef meat by-products that are boiled, pressed to remove moisture, and then fried in lard and flavoured with ingredients such as bay leaf and pepper before being served in a sheet of waxed paper or in a bun or focaccia. While this may not immediately sound appealing, there is a reason that the dish remains a local favourite.
Another excellent souvenir, frutta martorana are adorable sweets made from marzipan and shaped to look like tiny fruits and vegetables. While they might be a little bit old-fashioned, they are tiny works of art and look beautiful in a box tied up with ribbon and brought home from a stay in one of our villas in Sicily.
Granita, meanwhile, is a sweet treat that is ideal for hot, sunny days on vacation in Sicily. A semi-frozen dessert somewhat like a sorbet, it varies in consistency from area to area in Sicily and comes in a wide range of flavours so there is something for everyone.
Insalata di arance
The Sicilian orange salad is a very popular and typical salad dish that is usually served at the beginning or the end of a meal and is made with thin, tart orange slices served with olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
Maccu
A hearty and simple dish made with simple ingredients – chiefly dried and crushed fava beans and fennel – this traditional soup has ancient origins in local peasant cuisine that are said to go all the way back to the Romans. Today, it is less commonly found but can still be discovered served up occasionally in some restaurants.
Named for the city and surrounding area that produces it, this is a fortified Sicilian wine that can be sweet or dry. Similar to sherry, Marsala wine was traditionally served as an aperitivo between the first and second courses of a meal but is now commonly paired with cheeses as a dessert wine in restaurants. It is also often used in the preparation of savoury dishes and desserts.
Panelle
Another popular fried street food, panelle are fritters made from a chickpea flour and then served between slices of bread or in sesame rolls with a squeeze of lemon over top. Some sources claim that these are also a food in Sicily with a very long history and origins dating all the way back to the period of Arab rule on the island between the 9th and 11th centuries.
Pasta alla Norma
A very popular and delicious hearty pasta dish, pasta alla norma is made with tomatoes, fried eggplant, ricotta, and basil. From the Catania area of Sicily, it is said to be named in honour of local composer Vincenzo Bellini, who wrote the opera Norma.
Pecorino siciliano
Less well-known than pecorino romano, this semi-hard white cheese made from sheep’s milk is produced all over the island but particularly in the provinces of Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Enna, Trapani, and Palermo.
Pesto alla trapanese
Coming from the province of Trapani, this pesto dish is the local take on pesto from Genoa and was introduced when Trapani was part of Genoa’s historic trade route. Notably, the ingredients do differ from what one expects of a pesto today and include garlic, basil, almonds, grated pecorino siciliano, tomatoes, salt, and black pepper, and extra virgin olive oil.
Sicilian-style pizza is a must-try for those who enjoy deep-dish or thicker slices of pizza. Popularised in western Sicily in the 19th century and later exported to America, where it became even thicker, it is usually served in rectangular slices and topped with tomatoes, herbs, onions, and anchovies. Sometimes there is no cheese used at all and other times strong cheeses such as caciocavallo and toma are key ingredients.
One of the many other delicious desserts that can be enjoyed if you book a vacation rental in Sicily, these pastries are made of deep-fried fritters that are usually dusted with icing sugar and can be filled with custard, jam, ricotta and other ingredients and vary in consistency from light and fluffy to being like bread or pasta. Traditionally, they are eaten to celebrate Saint Joseph's Day.