What to Eat in Sicily
Before visiting, when I thought of Sicily, my first thought was Sicilian pizza (of course). But the unique thing about Sicily is that it’s been under the rule of, and therefore influenced by so many different cultures - the Romans, the Greeks, the Normans, the Spanish, the Arabs, and more. This and their unique landscape are reflected in the way they eat.
Here are my favorite things that I ate in Sicily!
Caponata
Caponata is an eggplant relish - sounds strange, I know, but it works! Served as an “antipasti,” (literally “before the meal”) caponata usually comes with or on top of a slice of bread. The chopped veggies like eggplant, celery, and peppers mixed with a sweetened vinegar gives it a sweet and sour flavor. The best I found is pictured below, from Sapurito restaurant in Palermo, and at the NH Collection Hotel in Taormina!
Pasta Alla Norma
Speaking of fried eggplant, my favorite meal on my trip to Italy was a pasta dish, naturally. Pasta Alla Norma is thick pasta in tomato sauce with fried eggplant and topped with ricotta. The pasta and tomato sauce were like the traditional Italian combination you’d think of, but the fried eggplant and ricotta cheese added a special kick of rooty flavor. I was truly depressed that I couldn’t fit the whole dish in my stomach. This pasta from Trattoria Biondo in Palermo literally changed my life.
Pasta Alla Norma from Trattoria Biondo Antichi Ristorante in Palermo
Mt. Etna Wine
Sicily’s volcano, Mt. Etna, is the largest active volcano in Europe. That means her slopes are full of rich, volcanic soil. The high altitude (some of the highest vines in the world) allows the grapes to benefit from the warm Mediterranean sun in the daytime, and cool, crisp nights. All of this adds up to some great wine! The most popular is Etna Rosso, a rich red. We visited a winery on Etna’s slopes that still had build ups of ash on its patio and roof from her most recent eruption!
Cannoli
Sicilian cannoli have hard shells and are filled with a creamy ricotta mixture that tasted like cake icing. They were to die for! Our guide drilled 2 things into our heads regarding this classic dessert:
#1: The word “cannoli” is plural - if you want one, you ask for a “cannolo.”
#2: You’ll know it’s authentic if the cannoli in the display case are empty! They should always be filled fresh in front of you, so the shells don’t get soft.
Granita
My favorite dessert or anytime snack! Granita is a frozen dessert, with a texture that’s like a mixture between a sorbet and Italian ice. It’s made with a variety of flavors, the most popular being lemon, almond or coffee. It’s best served with a helping of fresh cream on top, and accompanied by fresh, warm, brioche bread that you dip into the cream and ice!
The best granita is found at Bam Bar in one of my favorite towns: Taormina. I enjoyed many granite here, and my favorite flavor combo was strawberry and lemon.
Have you tried any of these dishes? Do you want to? Contact me to book your Sicilian adventure today!