If I had to give you one good reason to visit Sicily (there’s actually many), it’s for the food. The cuisine is so incredibly unique and delicious, I could eat it everyday. As an island historically conquered by many different colonies – the Greek, Normans, Arabs, and Romans to name a few, each of those colonies left their mark on the cuisine and architecture. The list of Sicilian dishes you could try is extremely lengthy (20+ Classic dishes) but today I’m sharing what are 10 of the best Sicilian foods in my opinion that you absolutely have to try!
Sicilian Food #1: Cannoli
Let’s start with my personal favorite– the cannolo. It is said to date back to the Arab rule over the island and comes from the Palermo and Messina regions.
What is is: A crunchy exterior shell with an interior of a sweet ricotta. Depending on the region you are in, you’ll find it decorated with things like chocolate chips, pistachios, hazelnuts, or candied oranges.
Pro Tip: If you visit a shop and see a pile of empty cannoli shells, you’ll know the spot is legit. If it’s pre-filled, it’s an automatic “skip” for me as you can almost guarantee you’ll have a soggy shell.
Sicilian Food #2: Gelato con la brioche
“Gelato con la brioche” translates to ice cream with brioche (a fluffy sweet bread). It can be eaten anytime of day really – whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner. While it might sound bizarre to have gelato for breakfast, believe me when I say that when it’s 85-95 degrees outside there’s nothing more refreshing.
What it is: The Brioche is cut in half and stuffed with overflowing gelato. You’ll want to eat it with a spoon.
Pro Tip: You can order one of these at any “bar” (Italian cafe). I personally prefer it for breakfast accompanied with a shot of espresso or cappuccino.
Sicilian Food #3: Granita Siciliana
Following our dessert discussion, let’s talk about “granitas.” First thing to know: it’s not to be confused with Italian Ice. Italian ice has a thicker and smoother consistency. This is more like a flavored crushed ice. It’s my favorite afternoon snack when I’m looking for a little energy boost.
What it is: Sugar, water, and favoring. The flavors come in everything from coffee to lemon to mint. It then creates this flavored crushed ice consistency that is eaten with a spoon and topped with a type of whipped cream.
Pro Tip: For that more authentic flavor, be sure to order it with a brioche on the side. Again, you might feel like this is a full meal!
Sicilian Food #4: Anything Eggplant
Growing up, my summers in Sicily always consisted of some form of eggplant dish on the table every single day. Sometimes even twice a day! Unlike the long and wide eggplants you might see at the grocery stores in the USA, Sicilian eggplants are perfectly round and a bright purple color.
What it is: There are so many dishes you can try local to the region with eggplant. A few of my favorites – eggplant caponata (a dish made with tomatoes, onions, peppers, and eggplant), breaded eggplant, and roasted eggplant. You’ll also often see pasta/pizza alla norma which is another fan favorite!
Sicilian Food #5: Pane con le panelle
This traditional street food from the capital of Palermo is thought to have been around since the days of the Arab rule over the island.
What it is: A type of fritter made with chickpea flour and then sandwiched between a bread roll.
Pro Tip: I recommend ordering these earlier in the day (for lunch or a late morning snack), especially during the summer as you don’t know when they last changed the oil for frying.
Sicilian Food #6: Fresh seafood
After watching the documentary Seaspiracy on Netflix, I haven’t eaten fish in about 4 months. However, I made the exception for Sicilian seafood. It’s typically caught down the street by local fisherman and you know exactly where it’s coming from. It’s also delicious (just like everything else).
What to try: You can’t go wrong with any seafood dish ordered along the coast. Some favorites: grilled octopus, pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines), and involtini di pesce spada (stuffed rolled swordfish).
Pro tip: If you’re visiting a town that isn’t along the coast, I’d personally consider skipping these dishes. While of course the fish will still be caught somewhat locally, it won’t be as fresh as if it was caught down the street!
Sicilian Food #7: Arancine
You may have heard of Arancine as they’ve recently become trendy at high end Italian restaurants in the states. They were named after the word “arancia” which means orange in Italian due to the color and shape of the food.
What it is: Arancine are Italian rice balls typically filled with either “burro” (mozzarella, ham, bechamel) or ragú (meat, tomato sauce). They’re breaded and deep fried which gives them a beautiful golden color.
Pro Tip: If with a group, I recommend ordering a few and sharing them to try a few different flavors. They might look small, but a whole one is enough for a meal!
Sicilian Food #8: Sfincione
My absolute favorite Sicilian food originates from Palermo. It’s considered one of the original “street foods” or “fast foods” of the region. Sfincione is something that can only be found in Palermo and the surrounding towns.
What it is: It’s a rectangular thick crust pizza that traditionally is topped with a special tomato sauce made with anchovies and onions. It is then sprinkled with cheese and breadcrumbs.
Pro Tip: While the description above is the traditional sfincione, there are many variations depending on the town you’re in. For example, my personal favorite is the version from Bagheria (Sfincione Bagherese), which doesn’t have tomato sauce and instead has ricotta (or another white cheese).
Sicilian Food #9: Olives
I may be a little biased, but there is nothing in the world like Sicilian olives and olive oil. If you ever find yourself on a road trip through the countryside, you’ll see huge olive groves with trees that are hundreds of years old.
Pro Tip: I like to order fresh olives at the “mercatino” (farmer’s market) to take home and snack on. You can even create a sampler platter of all different types. I also recommend ordering them at any restaurant for aperitivo hour (which is a big deal)!
Sicilian Food #10: Panettone
Last up on our list we have panettone. This sweet bread is typically eaten at Christmastime. This one can be debated as it technically originated in Milan in the late 1800s. However, the town Castelbuono in Sicily was the birthplace of the brand Fiasconaro. This might be the most famous panettone brand in the world, and is most notable for collaborating with Dolce & Gabbana on a yearly holiday panettone collection.
What it is: This Italian sweet bread is traditionally made with candied fruit, raisins, almonds, and brandy. It is usually gifted during the holidays (we at one point had 10 panettones in the pantry one year), and is usually served for dessert or breakfast.
Pro Tip: Castelbuono makes for the perfect day trip, and is the best spot to try this sweet bread!
Thanks for reading about the 10 Sicilian Foods to try on your trip to Sicily! Let us know your favorites when you visit.
When you visit this magical island, I implore you to get lost in a market and check out the produce stands, take a cooking class, and simply stumble upon local restaurants. You really don’t even need to research the “best spots” because any local spot can be guaranteed to be amazing.
For more Europe travel tips, visit the archives.
