Palermo Food is food of the people of the City of Palermo. For Italian food lovers Palermo is gastronomical Mecca. The food culture of Palmero is well represented in alleys, and streets, where the Sicilian hawkers attract the visitors with the freshly cooked Palermo fare. The Palermo cuisine serves as the fulcrum of various food cultures because Sicily is halfway from Europe, Africa and lies within the view of Asia. The food in Palermo is also distinguished by alternating simplicity and sophistication. A lavish dish preparation is often accompanied with simple staple dishes, which is rarely observed in other Italian city cuisines.
Popular Recipes from Palermo Cuisine
- Arancine Siciliane: These are popular baked rice balls served across Palermo, Sicily. The rice balls are often stuffed with meat sauce called Ragu. Other than that it is also stuffed with mozzarella cheese, peas, and tomato sauce, and on the outer side it is stuffed with bread crumbs.
- Cannoli Siciliani: This is a popular dessert which is normally served during carnivals. This dish is squared up by stuffing the fried pastry dough with sweet creamy filling of ricotta cheese. Sometimes succade and chocolate chips are also used for filling. This dish is normally served as the symbol of fertility. It is widely believed that this dish originated in the harem of Caltanissetta. Cannoli has become one of the popular symbols of a vibrant Palermo food culture.
- Panelle e Crocche: This is a staple food from the streets of Palermo. These are nothing but golden fried fritters which are prepared using ground chickpea flour, water, and parsley. These fritters are popularly served at the Italian restaurants across Manhattan. This dish has probably become a regular symbol of prestigious food culture and Italian and Palmero food cultures.
- Cassata Siciliana: This dessert is believed to be introduced during the Arabian rule in the 9th to 11th century. It is relatively unknown from where the dish gained its name. There is always a debate regarding the exact origin of the term. It is believed that the dish was perfected by nuns who lived in the monasteries around Palermo during the middle ages. The nuns are credited for commercializing the cassata. This Palmero food later on became the favorite food of Palermo Island and the whole of Italy.
