The food in Sicily is probably one of the main reasons to visit this island. The Sicilians love their food, some might say religiously. Everywhere we looked there was a restaurant, a food stall or someone cooking something. Sometimes, it was a bit too much for us, we were constantly thinking or fantasising about food even if we were completely full. The smells of a hot fresh pizza coming out of the oven, the ice cream shops with endless flavours and the colourful pastries on the display windows, were a total overdose to the senses. It is a foodie paradise, especially for Italian cuisine lovers.
Food in Sicily | Must try Sicilian food
Panini – Food in Sicily
Bread roll in Italian or basically a sandwich, but the Sicilian took this simple snack to higher levels. Usually served on Italian bread like Ciabatta or Focaccia. Grilled or toasted with all kinds of rich fillings, vegetables, meats and cheeses. Each place makes its style and ingredients, but we really recommend going to the supermarkets, where u can assemble your own panini, with endless options of fillings, breads and spreads. It will be also much cheaper and ten times tastier, trust us.
Delicious panini.
Alla Norma – Food in Sicily
A classic Sicilian combination of sautéed eggplant tossed with tomato sauce topped with ricotta salata. Mainly it comes as a sauce for a pasta dish but also a very popular topping for a pizza. Simple and delicious.
Pasta alla Norma is a classic Italian pasta dish that originates from the Sicilian city of Catania. It’s a flavorful and simple dish made with pasta, eggplant (aubergine), tomatoes, ricotta salata cheese, garlic, basil, and olive oil.
Cheese
Sicilian cheeses add depth to the cuisine. Pecorino Siciliano is a sharp sheep’s milk cheese often enjoyed with bread or fruits. Ricotta salata, a salted and aged ricotta, is grated over pasta dishes.
Burrata Pistacchio e Mortadella
Another specialized classic mix of the island, includes creamy burrata cheese, thin sliced mortadella sprinkled with crushed pistachio or pistachio pesto. This combination can be served on pasta, pizza or as filling in panini. Very unique and delectable.
Pasta con le sarde – Food in Sicily
Traditional Sicilian pasta. The dish contains fresh sardines or anchovies, sauteed onions and garlic, wild fennel, pine nuts, saffron and golden toasted breadcrumbs. This dish in the past was considered peasant food, but even though simple the combinations of the flavours are very complex, savoury and accurate. It was so good and simple that we started to cook this also at home.
Pasta con le sarde, also known as “Pasta with Sardines,” is another traditional Italian pasta dish with its roots in Sicilian cuisine.
Cassata Siciliana
Dated back to the 10th century, to this day it is still one of the most popular pastries in Sicily. The Cassata is a sponge cake filled with creamy ricotta cheese and candied fruits, covered with green marzipan and glazed sugar. We didn’t like it so much, but still, we recommend trying it at least once, it comes in different sizes, so unless you are a marzipan lover better try first the small portion.
Cassata Siciliana, often simply referred to as “Cassata,” is a traditional Italian dessert that originates from the island of Sicily.
Cannoli Siciliani – Food in Sicily
Sicilians love their sweets, and the Cannoli is probably the most prestige of them all. Fried pastry dough filled heavily with sweet ricotta cream and vanilla. Covered with powdered sugar. On the sides of the tube-shaped pastry usually they put pistachios or candied cherries. It’s delicious, but very very sweet, we recommend having a glass of water nearby.
Cannoli are known for their distinctive tube-shaped pastry shells that are filled with a sweet and creamy ricotta cheese filling.
Granita Siciliana- Food in Sicily
The Sicilian version of a slushy but served more as a dessert than a beverage. Made out of ice, water, a lot of sugar and different flavours. Lemon is the most common version of the Granita but in some ice cream shops, you can find more flavours like mandarins and pistachio.
Granita is a popular treat enjoyed especially during hot summer months but can be enjoyed year-round. Granita is made from a combination of water, sugar, and various flavourings, creating a semi-frozen dessert with a unique texture.
Sicilian breakfast – Croissant and cappuccino
Classic breakfast in Sicily will usually include a pastry and coffee, that’s what they eat first thing in the morning. Even though the croissant is of French origin, it’s very popular around Sicily and comes with different fillings, with the most special one being the crema de pistachio.
Typical breakfast in Sicily.
Also as a coffee nation, the espresso and especially the cappuccino are some of the best we ever tried, The Sicilians really know how to make good coffee. we recommend drinking as much as possible.
Swordfish – Food in Sicily
A very common fish in Sicilian cuisine. The star of the fish on the local markets and a must-try at the fish restaurants, We tried it for the first time and enjoyed it a lot, the texture of the fish reminds me a bit of tuna but in flavour more like whitefish.
Arancini – Food in Sicily
The most famous street food snack of Sicily. Crunchy deep-fried rice balls, come in different fillings and shapes. We saw mostly the Al Ragù, shaped like a cone, filled with green peas, mozzarella and ragu sauce.
Arancini in Noto, Sicily.
Sardines ‘a beccafico
Another great traditional Sicilian snack. Stuffed sardines with a mix of pine nuts, raisins, herbs and bread crumbs.
Fruits and vegetables
The island’s fertile soil yields a bounty of fruits and vegetables. Oranges, lemons, almonds, and olives are integral to Sicilian cuisine. Caponata, a sweet and sour eggplant dish with celery, tomatoes, and olives, is a popular antipasto.
Pistachios – Food in Sicily
A staple ingredient in the Sicilian cuisine. We tried probably all the possibilities of the savoury green seed. Pistachio ice cream, pistachio pesto, pistachio sweet cream or just plain salty pistachios. Sicily is a pistachio kingdom. We recommend going to the markets to get some for very good prices.
Pizza
No need for an introduction. The beloved pizza has taken over the world, and u can find good pizzas everywhere. But the pizzas in Sicily have a slight edge. Being perfected for centuries, the high-quality craft of pizza making in Sicily and the local fresh ingredients make this Island a number 1 destination for pizza enthusiasts.
Pizza in Sicily is one of the best we ever tried.
The best culinary experience
Sicilian food embodies the island’s diverse heritage and offers a delectable journey through its history and culture. Whether you’re exploring street markets, dining in local trattorias, or savouring sweet treats, Sicilian cuisine will captivate your taste buds.
