What to eat during a vacation in Catania: the culinary specialties

Surely this city is chosen by many tourists especially for the many things to see, even if there is one day available. The second reason is its cuisine: a holiday is not complete without having tasted the typical dishes. In other words, you have to know what to eat in Catania to come back home very satisfied with the trip.

First courses

We start with the first courses, as it should be. In Catania you can eat an excellent pasta alla norma (tomato, fried eggplants, salty ricotta and basil). The pasta with sardines (which is part of the list of traditional Italian food products) and spaghetti alla carrettiera (with oil, garlic, pepper, grated pecorino) are also two other strong points.

Side dishes and specialties

Continuing with the dishes to eat comfortably at the table, the caponata (a mixture of fried vegetables, and then topped with tomato, olives, capers, celery, onions), the sangeli (the sanguinaccio) and Mauru (salad of red algae with salt and lemon) are other Catania specialties.

Street food

Obviously your holiday in Catania also aims to introduce you to the many beauties of the city. And in the meantime you can still enjoy other specialties of Catania:

• Quarumi, boiled calf’s entrails with celery, carrots, parsley and onion;
• Cipolline, flaky pastry stuffed with mozzarella, tomato sauce and especially a lot of onions;
• Schiacciata, a cake baked in the oven and seasoned with olive oil;
• Arancini with meat sauce, which certainly do not need any introduction.

Desserts

Does the name cassata mean anything to you? Of course it does, because the Sicilian pastry is renowned. And Catania desserts are not an exception:

• The cassatelle di Sant’Agata, small cassata;
• The Olivette di Sant’Agata, cakes of almond paste in the shape of olive;
• The rame of Naples, a cocoa biscuit and covered with a chocolate glaze;
• The cuddura, a braided pretzel (which can also be salted);
• The n’zuddi, ball-shaped sweets made with flour, sugar, cinnamon, almonds, orange peel;
• The crispelle di riso, fried cakes made of rice;
• The famous granita, to be tasted (even) with a brioche.

So here’s what to eat in Catania: now your holiday can really be complete. But have you booked your ferry to Sicily?

Image source: Flickr.com/photos/notahipster