Sicilian cooking is no doubt influenced by it's land, history as well as the numerous cultures that have occupied the island. What better way is there to discover Sicily's rich and diverse cuisine than to sample several small plates of it's finest dishes? This guide will inspire you to create a complete, satisfying meal made up only of Sicilian antipasto dishes!
Sicilian Antipasto Recipe Roundup
Some of my the best meals I enjoyed in Sicily consisted only of antipasto dishes! And I don't mean the typical antipasto platter we are used to made up of a few slices of prosciutto and melone, a ball of bocconcini cheese and a couple of olives.
I was pleased to discover that several restaurants in and around the town of Naso (Messina) offer a choose as you go dining option beginning with antipasto with the possibility of adding a first and/or second course according to your appetite. Genius!
But when you are offered endless plates of antipasti served family style along with fresh bread, a variety of cheeses and olives, who needs a primo or secondo?
So here is a round up of a few of those dishes I have had the pleasure to devour in Sicily. I hope that this collection of recipes, both hot and cold, with contrasting textures and flavors from hot and crisp to sweet and savory, will inspire you to create your own complete antipasto feast at home!
Do note that none of these dishes include fish and seafood and antipasto menu items will vary depending on where you are in Sicily. Naso is a hilltop town located on the slopes of the Nebrodi mountain range and therefore fish is not commonly served in these locations.
Must Haves Foods Items to Accompany Your Antipasto Menu:
1. Fresh crusty bread: such as Sicilian semolina bread or Mafalda bread.
2. Olives: a variety of Italian olives including Sicilian cracked green olives.
3. An assortment of cheeses: such as Pecorino; provola; caciocavallo or primo sale.
4. Thinly sliced coldcuts of your choice such as mortadella; prosciutto or salami.
Buon appetito!
Cauliflower Fritters (Crispeddi cu brocculu)
You can prepare fritters with just about any seasonal vegetable such as zucchini; swiss chard(giri) or even ricotta. However my favorite have always been my mother's cauliflower fritters. Why not prepare smaller, bite sized fritters as part of your antipasto spread?
Italian Meatless Meatballs (Polpette di pane)
Imagine my pleasant surprise to find the meatless meatballs that I have enjoyed all my life as part of an antipasto spread. One bite and I was transported to my mother's kithen. These are the best meatballs, soft, moist and cheesy. I guarantee you will not miss the meat But in case you do, you may opt for my mom's best Sicilian meatball recipe!
The Best Sicilian Arancini
Bite sized arancini are a must on any Sicilian menu, and they will usually be the classic ragu and peas filled version. But of course you can go with any variation of your choice including eggplant; seafood; pistachio or prosciutto cotto and cheese filled if you prefer!
Eggplant Caponata - Sicilian Eggplant Recipe
Eggplant caponata is an iconic Sicilian dish featuring the
distinct agrodolce (sweet and sour) flavors of many Sicilian dishes. This dish is often served as antipasto but quite honestly I could enjoy it as a main dish as long as I have lots of fresh bread handy!
Fried Tuma Cheese Appetizer
Breaded and fried fresh tuma cheese is a delight for the senses, soft on the inside and crisp on the ouside.
Mom's Eggplant Parmigiana Recipe
Small squares of eggplant parmigiana may also be part of an antipasto spread. This unique Messinese version contains hard boiled eggs and mortadella, a must try!
Fried Pizza Dough (Pizza Fritta)
Nobs of fried bread or pizza dough are hard to resist. In my recipe the dough is shaped into small round pizzas and fried but you can basically shape the dough in any way you please as long as it's fried until golden and crisp. These little morsels are hard to resist!
Italian Pickled Eggplant
Pickled vegetables are always a must have on your antipasto menu and I'm partial to my mom's best pickled eggplant but you can choose any pickled vegetable of your choice including mushrooms or giardiniera.
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