The 7 Sicilian Dishes You Have To Try

Italian food is one of the many reasons that people visit the country and Sicilian dishes are among the best in the country. The island has a very unique culinary tradition and the style of cooking here differs greatly from the rest of the country. This is due to the fact that Sicily has been conquered by a whole host of different nations over the years, including the Phoenicians of North Africa, the Islamic Moors, Greeks, Romans, Normans and Spanish, among others. So, while you’ll find typical Italian ingredients such as olive oil and pastas, there’s also bold saffron and raisons.

You might not be able to travel there right now, but we wanted to highlight some of the best recipes from the region. These recipes come from the very best food bloggers in the world, so make sure to bookmark their sites.

With a mixture of great seafood, pastas and meats Sicilian dishes really make use of the produce around the island. All you have to do is get into the kitchen and start cooking these wonderful meals up yourself.

The Best Sicilian Dishes

1. Sicilian Artichoke Hearts With Almond Sauce

Here is a recipe that epitomises Sicily’s rich and varied heritage: artichoke hearts with almond sauce. It is perfect to serve either hot or cold and truly unique in its flavour.

Recipe created by Derek.

2. Arancini

Sicilian Arancini, or rice balls, are a common street food in Sicily sold in bars and cafes. The traditional filling is the traditional meat sauce with peas (or ragu).

Recipe is by Mangia Bedda.

3. Caponata

Caponata is a classic Sicilian dish of roast eggplant (aubergine) salty olives, still-crisp celery, and capers. The recipe for caponata can change from household to household, but it must always contain aubergines, pine nuts, raisins and plenty of vinegar!

Recipe is by David Lebovitz.

4. Pasta alla Norma

This is one of the most famous pasta dishes in Sicily. It’s probably the best representation of Sicilian cuisine out there, making the most of local tomatoes, aubergines, garlic, basil and ricotta salata (salted ricotta).

Recipe is by Scrummy Lane.

5. Cannoli Siciliana

You’ll find these ricotta-filled treats in every pasticceria on the island. They are the go-to gift for guests to take to lunch or dinner party hosts, as well as a regular treat when visiting ‘nanna’ for Sunday tea.

Recipe is by Misya.

6. Sicilian Lasagna

This Sicilian recipe from Catania, called lasagna alla Catanese You’ve probably eaten lots of lasagna over the years, but this local version is a little different… It’s layers of mortadella, hard-boiled eggs, various cheeses, fried aubergines, mushrooms and crumbled meatballs. And of course, also the béchamel and the ragù!

Recipe is by Serafina Cuisine.

7. Almond Cookies

Paste alle mandorle, or almond cookies, are one of the simplest and most delicious cookie recipes you could ask for, requiring only 4 ingredients and an overnight refrigeration, so you can make the dough one day and bake the next. And because they only use almond flour, they are gluten-free friendly.

Recipe created by Jenny.