Rome or Milan may be the top destinations to visit in Italy, but let us not forget about other cities that are just as amazing. It is a must to spend a couple of days in Palermo, which is the capital of Sicily, a beautiful Italian island. Teatro Massimo is the best place for you to indulge in spectacular opera performances. You will also be stunned by how massive the theater is. You should also stop by Palermo Cathedral, one of the most important landmarks in the city because it is where you can find the royal tombs. You have to know that Palermo offers not only top-notch attractions but also delicious cuisine, especially street food. Keep reading to learn more about the top street food you must try in Palermo, Italy.
1. Sfincione (Sicilian pizza)
Pizza—we all know the deliciousness of pizza. Eating a lot of slices of pizza would not be a problem. Pizza originated in Italy, and that is why it is a must to try an Italian pizza for its authentic taste and recipe. Palermo is well-known for its street food named sfincione, which is a Sicilian pizza. How is it different from the common pizza that you see? It is the shape. While the standard pizza is round, sfincione comes in a rectangular shape. The crust is also thicker. But the toppings are generally the same. You can find tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese—and once it melts in your mouth, the taste will stay forever.
2. Crocchè di patate (croquette)
Crocchè di patate is potato croquette in English, and this street food would be perfect to fill your stomach quickly when the hunger kicks in—because it is potato, so you can expect a lot of carbohydrates. Making crocchè di patate is quite easy. The potatoes need to be baked before being mashed. You then form them into oblong shapes and mix them with breadcrumbs and ingredients such as eggs, salt, and pepper. Deep-fry the shaped potatoes, and you will get your crocchè di patate. You can enjoy a plate of croquettes along with side dishes and even cocktails.
3. Arancini (Sicilian rice balls)
Just look at the picture of arancini first. Don’t they look delicious? No wonder—because arancini are Sicilian rice balls stuffed with a variety of fillings. The most common that you can find in Palermo include mozzarella cheese and ham and sometimes peas. The rice balls are coated with breadcrumbs, and just like the croquettes, arancini are also deep-fried.
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4. Panelle (Sicilian chickpea fritters)
Palermo also has panelle as one of its most popular street food. As you already know by the English name, panelle are fritters that taste savory because they are made from chickpea flour. Panelle are cut into smaller shapes to accomplish their purpose as a light snack, usually eaten in between slices of bread. So eating panelle is like eating a sandwich.
5. Meusa (bread with spleen)
Meusa may look like a burger, but it is actually not a burger. This Sicilian street food is highly popular in Palermo, and you will not be able to resist the yummy taste it offers. Indeed, you will be craving for more once you have tried your first meusa. Indulge in a piece of soft bread, usually with sesame on the outer part, that is stuffed with spleen and veal lung. Don’t worry—they are safe to eat as they have been boiled and fried for a long time.
6. Cannoli (pastries)
Those who are fond of sweet cuisine may be wondering whether Palermo has street food that is sweet rather than savory. The answer is yes. Cannoli, or Sicilian pastries, are what you are looking for. The fried pastries are unique because of the shape—which resembles a tube. What makes cannoli famous is the filling that is just so sweet and creamy. Usually, the filling is made from ricotta cheese, thus the rich taste.
7. Stigghiola (Sicilian lamb)
What do you think of lamb? Is it one of your favorite meats? Indulge in stighhiola that can be easily found on the streets of Palermo. You are going to eat some lamb guts that have been washed with both water and salt. So they should be safe to eat. To make the stigghiola flavorful, parsley, onions, and other herbs and spices are often used. Then the stigghiola would be grilled before it is served.
8. Sicilian cheese
Sicilian cheese is a must-try street food, and there are actually plenty of varieties. You do not have to try them all. Otherwise, your stomach will be bloated with cheese. But you can try the most popular ones, such as pecorino that is made from sheep’s milk and canestrato that is made from cow’s milk. Eat the cheese directly or with bread—it is up to you.
9. Roasted chestnuts
The tempting smell of roasted chestnuts will fill the air of the streets of Palermo when you come between October and March. There will be tons of roasted-chestnut vendors piling up on the streets, and you can see how exactly the chestnuts are roasted, which is inside iron pipes that are both long and wide. Try to find out how many roasted chestnuts you can see within a day. You may surprise yourself when you have eaten one kilo without even realizing it—only after all the chestnuts are nowhere to be seen.
10. Polpo bollito (boiled octopus)
Boiled octopus sounds tasty, right? It would be a shame to leave Palermo without trying the polpo bollito. It is simple actually—the cook will just boil an octopus and then season the seafood with ingredients such as parsley, lemon, and oil. You can eat the polpo bollito with a variety of dishes, like a sandwich, or plain with vegetables and lemon sauce, for example.
11. Milinciani fritte (fried eggplant)
Last but not least is milinciani fritte, which is the favorite of vegetable lovers. The eggplants are cut into smaller slices and then fried or grilled, depending on how you want them to be. Some of the local people like to eat milinciani fritte within slices of bread like a sandwich, but some like to just eat them directly, with salt and pepper for those who like a bit of seasoning.
What a wonderful vacation you will have in Palermo
As you can see, Palermo boasts numerous delicious street food. You do not want to skip this street food and that street food just because you are worried about gaining weight. When you are on vacation, happiness is the most important thing. So, in addition to exploring all the attractions in Palermo, you also need to try the street food. Happy exploring and eating!
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