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The challenge of what to eat in Sicily, says World SheBuysTravel, is the temptation to eat it all. Food in Sicily is irresistible. Sicily travel has to include arancini, granita, cannoli, and other foods at the core of Sicilian identity. La RosaWorks Sicily Tours and Travel brought her to street carts, vineyards, open air markets, and restaurants where food in Sicily was always fresh, local, and memorable.
9 Foods You Must Try in Sicily, Italy
1. Arancini
2. Pasta alla norma
3. Granita
4. Cannoli
5. Crusty bread with olive oil
6. Pesce spada alla siciliana
7. Ricotta with honey
8. Fresh squeezed orange juice
9. Wine
My husband and I spent a delicious week exploring food, wine, and what to eat in Sicily, Italy. Some foods are the essence of Sicily and have to be part of Sicily travel. And other food in Sicily, even if available elsewhere, is so fresh and good that we had to try it in Sicily.
Food in Sicily: Food culture
Sicilians take pleasure in food and that pleasure is contagious. From the colors of the vegetables and fruit in the Catania open air fish market, to freshly prepared street foods in Palermo, to a 4-course lunch at a vineyard to accompany a wine tasting, Sicily invited us to slow down. And appreciate the tastes, textures, and colors of food, and the sociability of eating.
Portions are smaller than in American restaurants. And that’s a good thing. Because a sitdown Sicilian lunch might start with an appetizer, followed by a first course of pasta (primo), followed by a second course of meat or fish (secondo). And if there’s room, dessert.
Food in Sicily: Greek, Arab and other influences
Sicily is strategically placed in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. So Sicily has been invaded, a lot. And each invader influenced Sicily’s food. Now, Sicily’s delicious food reflects influences from its Greek, Arab, Norman, Spanish and other invaders.
1. Arancini
Arancini are classic Sicilian street food we ate with our hands. Imagine stuffing a ball of risotto with meat or cheese. Then rolling the ball in breadcrumbs, frying until it is toasted on the outside. The resulting orange balls are arancini, which means “little oranges.” We tried arancini stuffed with mushrooms, and with beef and cheese. But arancini also can also be stuffed with meat sauce (ragu), green peas, pistachio – and other things. Arabs dominated Sicily from the 9th to 11thcenturies, and brought rice to Sicily. And Sicily began making arancini during that time.
2. Pasta alla norma
Sicilian pasta was so delectable, my husband and I ate it twice a day. We enjoyed a pasta course in each of our luxurious 4-course lunches and dinners during our week in Sicily, all organized by La RosaWorks Sicily Tours and Travel. Sicily makes its pasta with a hearty wheat and served al dente, never mushy.
Pasta Alla Norma is chunks of fried eggplant in a tomato and basil sauce, sprinkled with the Sicilian specialty ricotta salata, salted ricotta cheese, and served over pasta. But we enjoyed pasta every which way in Sicily: topped with calamari, layered with tomatoes and cheese, tossed with pistachio pesto. All fresh, all local, all delicious.
3. Granita
Around the year 800, Arabs introduced oranges, lemons, pistachio and sugar to Sicily. Today, Sicilians mix those and other flavors with crushed ice to make granita, a refreshing sweet treat. It’s similar to but lighter than sorbet. My husband and I happily sipped almond granita to cool off while exploring Ortigia, Siracusa.
In Palermo, we used spoons to eat the smoothest pistachio granita I’ve tasted. But for breakfast, Sicilians eat a granita with a brioche for dipping. (Curiously, Sicilians also eat gelato stuffed into a brioche, which we did not try.)
4. Cannoli
Sure, growing up in New York and living in Philadelphia, I’ve eaten cannoli. They’re a dessert made of sweetened ricotta cheese stuffed into deep-fried shells, and studded with chocolate bits or candied fruit. But Sicily invented cannoli, and their pride shows.
In Sicily, we learned that a good cannoli place does not pre-fill the shells but only fills to order. And while we were stopping at a Sicilian pasticceria (bakery) for cannoli, of course, we had to try crumbly Sicilian cookies, often made with almonds or pistachios. Another don’t miss food in Sicily.
5. Crusty bread with olive oil
Is it the quality of the flour? I don’t know, but the thick crusty, chewy bread we had in Sicily was addictive. In fact, fresh bread and local olive oil were so good in Sicily, they were like their own food group. So Sicily travel has to include bread dipped in olive oil. Plus, my husband and I used bread to sop up any leftover pasta sauce. Because every sauce in Sicily was so good, we wanted to savor every drop.
6. Pesce Spada Alla Siciliana
Sicily is an island. And the Sicilian fisherman’s catch depends on the season. For example, in May, we saw clams, sardines, eels in the open air market in Catania. But not sea urchin. And in both Palermo and Catania, we saw fishermen at street stands with whole tunas, cutting and selling off one steak at a time.
While we ate tons of delicious fresh seafood in Sicily, I especially loved swordfish layered with raisins, olives, and pine nuts, Pesce Spada alla Siciliana.
Granted, I ate this dish in the Palermo palazzo of a Sicilian aristocrat, a unique experience arranged for us by La Rosa Works Sicilian Tours and Travel. The setting made it even more special. But the blend of flavors made it seem like a taste of Sicily.
7. Ricotta with honey
Sicilian cheeses are delicious. We tasted cow, goat, and sheep cheeses at the food market in Palermo, enjoyed a cheese sampling course with a dessert wine in Catania, and of course, ate local Sicilian cheeses as part of pasta dishes.
But one cheese dish we tried seemed to capture the history of food in Sicily. Around 700 BC, Greeks introduced honey and walnuts to Sicily. And Sicilians take their honey seriously.
For example, we visited a beekeeper who flavors honey with orange and lemons, fruits introduced to Sicily by Arabs in the 9thcentury. All this history came together in an appetizer of crisp toasts spread with fresh ricotta and drizzled with honey and walnuts. Yum.
8. Fresh squeezed orange juice
At street stands and kiosks, we saw vendors selling fresh squeezed orange juice. So fresh, in fact, that I saw my juice squeezed. Even though it was quick and cheap to drink on the street, sipping Sicilian fresh squeezed orange juice felt luxurious.
SheBuysTravel tip: Another favorite street food in Palermo, also introduced by Arabs, is panelle– chickpea fritters. Because they’re so popular, I wanted to try them. But their charm evaded me. Maybe you’ll have better luck.
9. Wine
Around 700 BC, Greeks introduced grapes to Sicily. Now, Sicilian wine is well known. But isn’t always easily available in the US. So part of the fun of Sicily travel was trying Sicilian wines. La RosaWorks Sicily Tours and Travel arranged for us to do several wine tastings at vineyards. I especially enjoyed meeting the wine producers, touring the vineyards, and tasting wines paired with elegant 4-course lunches. I was in heaven.
SheBuysTravel tip: I love learning about a foreign culture by taking a cooking lesson. Like the class that SheBuysTravel Marina took with her family in Valencia, Spain. So I hope to take a class the next time we visit Sicily. And there will be a next time since we loved Sicily.
Read More: Traveling Around the World with the Pickiest of Eaters
GIUSEPPE COSTA says
Everything fine, but there’s an “error”, not all Italians say arancini, in Palermo like in other part of Italy we say arancine (plural) and arancina (singular)
Punita Malhotra says
All of it is so glorious. Can anyone ever have enough of Italian food? Thank you for reminding me that I must not rest until I go to Sicily. Meanwhile, will reach for the best Italian restaurant i can find locally.
Medha Verma says
I have been to Italy but did not make it to Sicily and if I loved the food in the cities that I did visit, I can only imagine how amazing the food in Sicily would be. I don’t think I have ever tried Arancini before but it sounds like the perfect Italian street food! You’re right, the challenge would be to resist the temptation to try everything! I know I would.
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
It was tempting, but we did so much walking I felt justified in giving into the temptation to eat, eat, eat. Such memories!
Kevin Wagar says
Oh man! Pasta and wine is just culinary paradise! I would get so fat and happy living on that all the time!
Sara Essop says
Sicilian food is famous all over the world. Everything sounds so delicious that my mouth is watering after reading your post. 🙂
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
My mouth was watering while writing it! We would happily return to Sicily.
Lori says
Well, after reading this, we’ve broken out our passports. My hubby’s grandparents were from Sicily and he still eats ricotta drizzled with honey. Now I know why. Next time you go definitely have a brioche stuffed with a scoop of gelato. You’ll be happy you did;) Have bookmarked this article. Love it.
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
Oh that’s so interesting that the food tradition carried on thru the generations. And it’s delicious. On your recommendation, I’ll try the brioche stuffed with gelato, next time I’m in Sicily. And yes, I’m sure there will be a next time – and I hope you get to go!
Sanne - Spend Life Traveling says
I lived in Rome for a while and one of the things I miss most is their great food culture. Sicily is still on my list and you really make me want to go there now to taste all the food!! And that picture of Cannoli… I haven’t had that since I left Italy and miss it so much!!
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
I hope you get to go Sicily! And taste the fresh cannoli, and so much more.
Name *Amanda Kendle says
Oh my!!! So much good stuff here – some of my very favourites though I didn’t realise they were from Sicily – have never made it there but now feel very much that I need to go (and eat a lot!).
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
Yes, I had the same reaction – did not realize cannoli were from Sicily, or that granita evolved there. So delicious! I hope you get to visit Sicily. We’d love to return.
Christine Tibbetts says
When I am so fortunate to go to Sicily, I will take this article with me! And follow every meal you explain.
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
I hope you get to go! We enjoyed Sicily so much, we’d happily return.
Kate Rebel says
Wow, I am definitely hungry now 😀 I am a huge fan of Italian food in general but haven’t been to Sicily yet. Besides from the wine of course the Ricotta with honey was definitely my favorite – might even be able to make this at home, too! 🙂
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
Yes, I think you could! Spread fresh ricotta on crispy rye toasts, drizzle with local honey, sprinkle with walnuts. Delicious with robust wine. And I hope you get to visit Sicily.
Rachel says
This is making me SO hungry! Arancini is one of my all time favourites, especially stuffed with mushrooms. I’ve never had granita but it sounds so refreshing, as does the fresh orange. Looks like I need a trip to Sicily!
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
Yes! We all need a trip to Sicily! We would return in a heartbeat.
Judy says
The food looks awesome!
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
It really is delicious. I think the key is that everything we ate was seasonal, fresh, and local.
Andrzej Ejmont says
There is absolutely nothing better than the crusty bread and olive oil! It really doesn’t matter how full you already are, you can always squeeze some bread.. of course with a pinch of salt 🙂
Sarah Ricks, World SheBuysTravel says
I agree! For Sicilian bread that chewy and crusty, and olive oil that fresh and delicious – there’s always room. Yum!