Fritto misto is one of those dishes that differs widely across the country. Along the Italian seaside, it will always include crustaceans and mollusks, typically shrimp and squid, and often paranza, which is a collective name for very small whole fish such as fresh anchovies, sardines, baby mackerel, or mullet.

In northern parts of the country, particularly in Piedmont, fritto misto is mostly made with vegetables and, depending on the season, includes semolina, veal brain, brochettes of cheese and prosciutto, sometimes even apples and amaretti biscuits. 

These crescent-shaped turnovers are traditionally prepared for the Carnival season, and even though it is believed that they originated in the Apulia region, panzerotti are extremely popular all across southern Italy. They resemble small calzone pizzas—both in shape and the dough used for its preparation—but instead of being oven-baked, panzerotti are deep-fried, which is why they're also called calzoni fritti (fried calzones), pizze fritte (fried pizzas), or simply frittelle (fritters).

The classic panzerotto filling consists of merely tomatoes and mozzarella, but they can be filled with pretty much anything and in various combinations: prosciutto-mozzarella, pepperoni-provolone, spinach-ricotta, zucchini-mozzarella, onion-olives-tomatoes, speck-fontina, etc. 

Assorted fried seafood known as fritto misto di pesce is hugely popular in Campania, but it is also found all over Italy. However, fritto misto is one of those dishes that differs widely across the country. Along the Italian seaside, it will always include crustaceans and mollusks, typically shrimp and squid, and often paranza, which is a collective name for very small whole fish such as fresh anchovies, sardines, baby mackerel, or mullet.

Depending on the region, fritto misto is sometimes batter-fried, but the simplest method of preparing it is lightly coating the food in flour and quickly deep-frying it in hot oil until it forms a nice golden brown crust.

Widely considered to be one of Rome's best street foods, these breaded, deep-fried rice croquettes are in fact quite similar to the Sicilian arancini, but unlike which, Roman supplì are traditionally filled with mozzarella, and the rice is pre-simmered in a tomato-based meat sauce.

In Rome, they are popularly known as supplì al telefono, taking their name from an Italianization of the French word for surprise and the long strings of molten cheese that resemble a telephone cord — the surprise that is revealed when you break one of these crispy rice balls open. 

Arancini are big, golden rice balls filled with a savory combination of ingredients in the center. These balls are especially popular in Sicily. The fillings often include meat sauce with peas, dried prosciutto, cheeses such as mozzarella and pecorino, tomatoes, or dried capers.

The balls are rolled in breadcrumbs and fried in hot oil, developing the characteristical golden color of the exterior. A popular theory says that the dish was invented in the 10th century during the Kalbid rule of Sicily. The name of the dish is derived from the Italian word for orange, arancia, referring to the similarities in visual appearance and color, so arancini means small oranges. 

Crocchè is a famous Sicilian deep-fried snack. Also known as crocchè di patatte, and panzarotti in Neapolitan, it is made with mashed potatoes, eggs, Parmigiano and mozzarella cheese, and parsley or mint leaves. Additional ingredients occasionally include provolone cheese, prosciutto, and salami.

This tasty snack with a crunchy exterior and silky soft interior was inspired by the famous French croquette, and it originated in the 17th century, when potatoes became a staple ingredient in Sicily. Crocchè is most commonly regarded as Italian street food, but it is occasionally also served in restaurants as a side dish or antipasto. 

Arancini al ragu or arancini al sugo is a traditional variety of arancini rice balls originating from Sicily. For this version, the arancini are typically stuffed with ragu and cheese, and sometimes peas. The ragu is made with ground beef, onions, carrots, celery, tomatoes, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Once stuffed, the arancini are breaded and deep-fried in oil until golden and crunchy. Parsley and basil are welcome flavorings for arancini al ragu. This snack can be found in most restaurants, bakeries, and street cart stands in Sicily.

This pizza calls for deep frying the dough shortly before it is topped with marinara sauce, cheese, and basil, and then thrown into an oven for a final touch. The last step is said to imbue the pizza with a somewhat smoky, toasted flavor and make the crust light and airy, with a nice crunch to it.

Although it might seem like a newly-concocted dish, this deep-fried pizza specialty is actually a variety of Italian pizza that dates way back in time and is believed to have its roots in the mountains surrounding Naples. The pizza’s origins are reflected in its name montanara, meaning coming from the mountain or mountain-style pizza. 

Arancini al burro is a traditional snack or an appetizer originating from Sicily. These stuffed rice balls are coated with a crispy batter and deep-fried in oil. The al burro version is stuffed with ham or prosciutto, bechamel sauce, and mozzarella or scamorza cheese.

The name might be misleading, as burro means butter, and it refers to the old practice of placing a small piece of butter inside the arancini in order to keep the rice soft. In Palermo, the name stayed the same, but the stuffing has been enriched with cheese and ham.