MAIN INGREDIENTS
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.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
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.
VARIATIONS OF Arancini
MOST ICONIC Arancini
View moreCrocchè 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.
MOST ICONIC Crocchè
Cartocciata is a traditional Sicilian street food originating from Catania and the area around Mount Etna. Visually, it looks similar to a small calzone pizza and consists of dough that's stuffed with various ingredients. The traditional version is stuffed with tomatoes and mozzarella, but there are also cartocciata varieties with ingredients such as ham, mushrooms, eggs, chips, salami, fried eggplant, or sausages.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
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.
MOST ICONIC Arancini al ragu
Scaccia is a unique dish from the Sicilian province of Ragusa that can either be described as a cross between lasagna and calzone pizza or a stuffed flatbread. It's prepared by topping the thinly rolled dough with various ingredients, then folding it over itself so that it resembles a strudel.
These long, rectangular stuffed flatbreads are traditionally sliced in pieces, revealing the flavorful layers of dough, sauce, and cheese. There are several regional varieties of scaccia, so in some places it is topped only with sauce and cheese, while in other places it is topped with potatoes, cottage cheese, sausages, and different vegetables.
MOST ICONIC Scaccia
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Arancini alla Norma is a traditional variety of arancini originating from Catania, Sicily. These rice balls are stuffed with the ingredients that are used in a traditional dish called pasta alla Norma: tomato sauce with basil, eggplants, and ricotta cheese.
The sauce for the filling is reduced and concentrated, and it's then stuffed into rice balls that are breaded and deep-fried in oil until golden and crunchy. Salt and pepper are standard seasonings, while garlic and butter are welcome additions to arancini alla Norma.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
These delectable chickpea fritters are believed to have been introduced to Sicily by the Arabs who dominated the area between the 9th and the 11th century. Today, panelle are one of the most popular street foods on the island, especially in Palermo where they are traditionally served in a round bun with sesame seeds on top.
Best enjoyed warm, the crunchy fritters are typically drizzled with lemon juice and, for a more substantial snack, they can be topped with fresh ricotta cheese.
MOST ICONIC Panelle
View moreMAIN INGREDIENTS
This traditional Sicilian focaccia is an oven-baked flatbread topped with an oregano-flavored tomato sauce made with the addition of onions, anchovies, breadcrumbs, and local cheeses such as caciocavallo, provolone, tuma, or ricotta. Sfincione is one of the island's favorite street foods, especially in Palermo, where street vendors are often seen driving around in their three-wheeled Piaggio Ape food trucks shouting "Scairsu r'uogghiu e chin'i pruvulazzu" (lit. little oil and lots of dust), referring to the crusty breadcrumb topping.
The name sfincione is derived from the Arab word asfanaj and Greek sfoungári, both meaning sponge, which this flatbread resembles in appearance and texture.
MOST ICONIC Sfincione
View moreIn Palermo, stigghiola is a staple street food item consisting of lamb, goat, or chicken intestines that are skewered or wrapped around onions or leeks. Prepared skewers are then grilled and served cut into small, bite-sized pieces. Originally developed as a frugal meal, stigghiola nowadays represents an authentic, local specialty.
The dish is typically sold by stigghiularu, street vendors who are found at various local markets and fairs, specializing in the preparation of this delicacy. When served, stigghiola is traditionally accompanied by lemon wedges.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.