Welcome to Miriam Food Tour!
Planning a trip to Sicily? Pack your swimsuits, sunscreen… and your biggest appetite! 😋
I’m Miriam, born and raised in Palermo, and while I’m no master chef (unless heating up arancine counts 👩🏻🍳🔥), I am a certified expert in eating Sicilian food — and trust me, that counts for a lot around here.
With influences from Arab, Spanish, and Greek cultures, this island’s food is just as rich and beautiful as its beaches. From sweet treats to street eats, here are 20 must-try Sicilian specialties that’ll make you want to cancel your return flight.
🧡 1. Arancini (or Arancine… we’re still debating)
Rice balls fried to golden perfection! Some are filled with ragù, others with mozzarella, spinach, or even pistachio.
In Palermo we call them arancine (feminine), and in Catania they’re arancini (masculine), shaped like Mount Etna.
No matter the name — just eat them. You’ll thank me.
🍦 2. Gelato Sandwich: Brioche with Gelato
Yes, we eat ice cream in a bun for breakfast in Sicily. It’s soft, fluffy, and filled with scoops of gelato — way better than any cone. Chocolate and pistachio are a dream combo!
3. Granita (With Brioche, Of Course)
Iced, refreshing, and not to be confused with sorbet! Almond, lemon, and coffee are the classics. Served with a warm brioche — it’s a summer morning ritual on the east coast.
💣 4. Cannoli: Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.
A crispy shell stuffed with sweet ricotta cream. Legendary.
If you’ve seen The Godfather, you already know this is serious business.
🎂 5. Cassata
Imagine ricotta, sponge cake, marzipan, and candied fruit all dressed up in bright colors. Cassata isn’t just dessert, it’s a celebration in a cake. Pure art.
6. Frutta Martorana (Marzipan Fruit)
It looks like fruit… but it’s actually sweet, almondy marzipan. Originally made by clever nuns in Palermo to impress a bishop. Holy delicious!
7. Modica Chocolate
Grainy, dark, and magical. Made the ancient Aztec way, with just cacao and sugar. Try it and prepare for a texture surprise.
8. Caponata
Fried eggplant in a sweet-and-sour sauce with capers and olives. Every Sicilian grandma has her own recipe — and they’re all delicious.
9. Pasta alla Norma
Catania’s signature pasta with fried eggplant, tomato sauce, and salty ricotta cheese. Named after an opera — but you’ll be singing after one bite!
🥜 10. Busiate al Pesto Trapanese
wisted pasta with a pesto made of almonds, tomatoes, and garlic. A tasty twist on the Genovese classic.
🐟 11. Pasta with Sardines
Bold and fragrant! Sardines, wild fennel, pine nuts, and raisins — a perfect balance of sea and land.
12. Couscous with Fish
In San Vito Lo Capo, couscous is king. Influenced by North Africa, it’s spiced, comforting, and packed with fresh fish. Yes, in Sicily!
13. Pachino Tomatoes
Sun-kissed and juicy, these tomatoes from the southeast are so flavorful, it’s like Mother Nature added seasoning herself.
🚶 14. Sicilian Street Food
Palermo’s street food is legendary! Panelle (chickpea fritters), pani ca meusa (spleen sandwich), fried octopus, snails, and more.
Not for the faint of heart, but oh so worth it!
🥖 15. Pane Cunzatu
Simple, rustic bread topped with tomatoes, anchovies, olive oil, cheese, and oregano. Poor man’s sandwich? Nah — rich in flavor!
💚 16. Pistachios from Bronte
The “green gold” of Sicily. Grown on Mount Etna’s volcanic soil, these pistachios are famous worldwide. Get them in gelato, cream, or straight from the shell.
🍪 17. Almond Cookies
Crunchy, chewy, sweet, and perfect with coffee. Try the ones from Maria Grammatico in Erice. They’re unforgettable — like Sicilian sunsets.
🍮 18. Biancomangiare
Almond milk pudding that dates back to the Middle Ages. Silky, simple, and utterly elegant. Old-school dessert for modern taste buds.
🍷 19. Sicilian Wines
Red, white, and volcanic! Nero d’Avola, Etna Rosso, Cataratto… Wine in Sicily is serious business, and every region has something worth sipping.
20. Marsala Wine
A fortified wine that started as an export… and ended up a global hit. Go visit the Florio cellars — and bring home a bottle (or three).
Bonus Bites:
Capers, tuna, olives, citrus fruits, limoncello, Malvasia wine, torrone, and Trapani sea salt. Basically, pack an extra bag.
🙋♀️ FAQ – Miriam Answers Your Sicilian Food Questions!
Q: Can I find all these foods all over Sicily?
A: Not always! Some are regional (like busiate in Trapani or couscous in San Vito), so be ready to travel — and taste — across the island!
Q: Do Sicilians really eat ice cream for breakfast?
A: YES. Especially in the summer. And we love it. No regrets. 🍦
Q: Is it arancina or arancino?
A: If you’re in Palermo, it’s arancina. In Catania, it’s arancino. Just eat it. We’ll forgive you either way. 😂
Q: What’s a good foodie gift to bring home?
A: Pistachio cream, Modica chocolate, a bottle of Marsala, or almond cookies — your suitcase will smell amazing.
Join the Miriam Food Tour!
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And hey, if you’re visiting Palermo… DM me. I’ll take you to my favorite arancina spot. But only if you’re paying. 😉