16 Traditional Palermo Foods To Try in 2024
Authentic Palermo food may be somewhat of a challenge to come across elsewhere, but not at the heart of Sicily’s northwestern coast in the city itself. This vibrant city is packed yearly with tourists and is often called Sicily’s cultural, economic and tourism capital, but there's also a lot to be said about the many flavorful Palermo food creations.
Known for having some of the finest Italian cuisine, Palermo is truly a foodie's dream destination. With so many Palermo dishes available, knowing which ones to try can be overwhelming. To help you get the most out of your trip to this cultural hub, we have selected 16 traditional Palermo foods for you to try.
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Get a Taste of Traditional Palermo, Sicily Food
As you would expect in an Italian city, there is no shortage of traditional Palermo dishes to try. It’s just a case of deciding which meals suit your taste buds. One of the best ways to do this is by joining one of the many exciting food tours in Sicily. During these tours, a local guide will show off some hidden gems and teach you how to eat Palermo food like a local, while you learn more about the stunning city.
The 16 Most Traditional Palermo Dishes
1. Carne di Cavallo
The first Palermo food to try on our list is a meal steeped in cultural tradition. Carne di cavallo is horse meat. While this source of protein may not be as popular in places like the U.S., it is a real delicacy in Italy.
Carne di cavallo can be served in many ways. Some enjoy thin slices of dried and seasoned horse meat on a piece of homemade bread, while others enjoy it raw as a topping for pizza, pasta and salads. The rich and slightly sweet meat has a flavor profile similar to venison and beef.
2. Pani câ Mèusa
Looking for a Palermo food that is packed with protein? Then you’ve got to try pani câ mèusa. This street food is a sandwich made with boiled and fried veal spleen and lungs, which are meaty, rich and aromatic.
It was invented by Jewish butchers who cooked leftover meat with lemon and lard. Nowadays, this Palermo food is sliced into thin strips, bundled into a bread roll and served with cheeses like caciocavallo and ricotta. Squeeze some fresh lemon for some added zest and enjoy.
3. Sarde a Beccafico
Seafood lovers will enjoy this traditional Palermo food. You’ll find that sardines are a popular ingredient in Sicilian dishes, and this Palermo food is no exception. Sarde a beccafico is a traditional dish of sardines fried in butter and stuffed with a mixture of breadcrumbs, pine nuts and raisins, making it both sweet and savory.
This Palermo dish has an interesting history. "Beccafico" is the name of a small bird that eats figs in the summertime. For a long time, noble Sicilians would stuff these birds, so as an alternative for poor residents, they would stuff sardines instead.
4. Pasta Con le Sarde
When you think of Palermo food, there's a good chance you'll think of pasta, which is exactly what this unique meal is. It was invented over 1,000 years ago by a Byzantine general who desperately combined fennel and sardines to feed his starving soldiers.
Today, this strange mix of ingredients is still a very popular meal. You will find a base of fennel, pine nuts, anchovy or sardines with olive oil and raisins. Some locals enjoy topping the dish with toasted breadcrumbs for extra crunch.
5. Pasta alla Norma
Another great pasta dish that is not only popular in Sicily, but also worldwide, is pasta alla Norma. This Palermo food is a pasta dish made up of penne pasta and locally grown vegetables like eggplant, tomatoes and basil, along with salted ricotta rounds. It was named in honor of the famous composer, Catania Vincenzo Bellini, of the opera Norma.
6. Timballo
This Palermo food likely originated in the 19th century and is traditionally served during holiday celebrations like Easter and Christmas. Timballo is one of those dishes where the ingredients often change depending on what’s available. It is a layered dish made with leftover rice, potatoes or pasta and a serving of rich eggplant between the layers. You can find variations featuring mushrooms, shrimp and veal. It has similarities to dishes like lasagna.
7. Caponata
Caponata is a warm and cozy meal traditionally considered a poor man’s meal. However, the rich flavors of this Palermo food will make you feel otherwise. This stewed eggplant dish is the alternative to fish with sweet and sour sauce that noble Sicilians would eat.
This Palermo food is made with tomatoes, eggplant, capers and olives, with pine nuts and raisins added for additional sweetness. It is served hot or cold, depending on the weather.
8. Panelle
Panelle puts Palermo high on the list of best foodie cities. This chickpea fritter is not something you would expect when you think of Palermo food, and there is little concrete information on how this Arab ingredient landed in this island region of Sicily, but it is a staple among locals and tourists.
It's made by grinding chickpeas into chickpea flour and deep-frying until golden and delicious. The added salt, pepper and parsley give this snack a warm, savory flavor.
9. Arancini
For good reason, this next item is one of the most recognizable Palermo foods. Arancini are deep-fried balls of rice with a crunchy breadcrumb coating. Inside, they're stuffed with varying mixtures of deliciousness, like creamy mozzarella cheese, savory ham or sweet peas.
This traditional Palermo food was first introduced in the region by Arab culture on the island when under Arab rule in the 10th century. These rice balls are ideal on their own or served with vegetables, salads and pasta.
10. Busiate al Pesto Trapanese
Busiate al pesto trapanese is up there as one of the best Palermo foods to try. You'll probably recognize the "pesto" in the name. The "busiate Trapanese" element refers to a type of long macaroni-like pasta originating from the province of Trapani.
This Palermo food involves cooking the pasta with a refreshing and light basil pesto that consists of garlic, almonds, basil and cheese. A key ingredient in this traditional dish is fresh tomato and toasted breadcrumbs as a crispy topping. Some locals like to grate Parmigiano Reggiano on top.
11. Sfincione
Another traditional Palermo dish worth trying is sfincione — a Sicilian pizza. Many people are often surprised when they see this Palermo food for the first time because, while it may be called a pizza, it doesn’t look or taste like one.
In actual fact, sfincione is made from a thicker dough similar to focaccia and is served in rectangular slices rather than the classic triangles. This thick and fluffy dough is topped with tomatoes, caciocavallo or mozzarella cheese and sardines. It's often served with a side of sauce.
12. Cannoli
Palermo food is all about rich and decadent desserts, which is exactly what cannoli is — a Palermo food to try if you have a sweet tooth. This delicious pastry originated from the city of Palermo and the filling originated from the Saracens, an ancient culture of Arabic citizens that brought sugar to the region.
The great thing about this Palermo food is that you can choose from a variety of fillings, like traditional ricotta, rich pistachio or zesty blood orange. The city of Palermo is filled with local bakers who serve this delicacy.
13. Granita
While we’re on the topic of dessert, granita is another popular and refreshing treat you need to try for yourself. Essentially, it is iced water made up of a combination of sugar, water and various other ingredients. Originally, this Palermo food was reserved for aristocracy in the 9th century. It comes in many fun flavors like traditional lemon and more modern twists like coffee, mulberry and pistachio.
14. Frutta Martorana
Frutta Martorana is a sweet treat made from marzipan, handcrafted into shapes like vegetables, fruits and even sandwiches. Sometimes, these treats look so real you’ll have a hard time deciding if they’re the sweet or the real thing. It is said that this Palermo food was created at the Benedictine nunnery of Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio (La Martorana) when the nuns would decorate empty fruit trees with fruit-shaped marzipan to impress the visiting archbishop.
15. Cassata
If you’re a cake lover, you’ve got to try cassata. This Palermo food is a layered sponge cake soaked in liquor with layers of candied fruit and ricotta cheese. The outside layer is a shell of marzipan with either bright green or pink icing. The first recorded mention of this Palermo food dates back to the 10th century when it was made in celebration of King Roger II of Sicily.
16. Orange Salad
The last Palermo food on our list is the orange salad and, despite what the name implies, this is not your typical fruit salad. This zesty dish is popular in both Sicilian and Spanish cuisines and is generally served as a starter or at the end of the meal. It is made up of thin slices of orange with parsley, black olives and olive oil for a sweet and savory flavor.
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Looking at this list, it is clear to see why Palermo is a foodie's paradise. Palermo food is full of unique and delicious dishes that are steeped in rich and bold flavors with an interesting historical background.
For even more ways to explore Palermo and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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