Italy is famous for so many incredible things, and one of the aspects of Italian culture that is known and loved throughout the world is the culinary heritage and recipes that the country is known for. If you’re visiting Southern Italy you’ll be overwhelmed with types of Southern Italian foods to try. Southern Italy is home to Naples, the birthplace of pizza, and we’ll share exactly where to go to get the most authentic slice in the region.
Here are seven of the best Southern Italian foods you should try when you visit as well as a guide to exactly where you should go to get them.
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Buffalo Mozzarella
While delicious mozzarella cheese can be found in many places if you’re looking for the best producer of buffalo mozzarella cheese in Italy, head to Tenuta Vannulo Caseificio Yogurteria Biologica Caseificio in Capaccio. They have over 600 buffalo on-site – and part of their secret is the unique and careful way they care for these animals. There’s a “Buffalo Spa” on-site where they are able to get massages and brushings on demand. They are also woken every morning by recordings of Mozart’s symphonies.
They only produce approximately 400 kilograms of mozzarella per day and they will typically sell out before noon so if you want to sample this delicious cheese, make sure you arrive as early in the day as possible.
Arancini
Arancini are stuffed Italian rice balls that are deep-fried after being coated in breadcrumbs. The most common filling is ragu, which is a meat-based sauce but you’ll also find arancini stuffed with mozzarella cheese, peas, or ham. Arancini is said to have originated in the 10th century and has long been a staple of Sicilian cuisine.
Arancini are a traditional food for the feast of Santa Lucia on December 13 in the Sicilian cities of Palermo, Siracusa, and Trapani, when bread and pasta are not eaten. This commemorates the arrival of a grain supply ship on Santa Lucia’s Day in 1646 – an important event as there was a severe famine in the area and the arrival of this grain supply ship helped alleviate it.
Although you can get arancini anywhere in Sicily as it’s become a popular finger food, many recommend sampling the dish at Bar Vabres in Palermo.
Zuppa di Pesce
Zuppa di Pesce, one of the classic Southern Italian foods, is a delicious seafood stew that has been enjoyed in the region for centuries. This soup originated in Naples and is believed to have been created by fishermen who were trying to come up with a recipe from the fish that was left after the market. The result was the delicious meal known as Zuppa di Pesce.
As this meal originated with a culture and a specific group of people, there is not just one place you can go to try this incredible dish. It’s a given that a fish-based dish would be best enjoyed on the coast so the ingredients are as fresh as possible, so head to the coastal stretch of Naples and stop by any of the restaurants in the area. Osteria da Antonio is one of Naples’ best restaurants and the Zuppa di Pesce you can order here is well-loved by critics and the general public alike.
Caprese
Caprese salad is a simple but delicious Italian salad made with sliced fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and sweet basil that has been seasoned with salt, olive oil, or balsamic vinaigrette. The ingredients are laid out onto a plate and the colors of the typical ingredients mimic the color scheme of the Italian flag. Caprese salad is just one type of dish in the Caprese category of food: you can find Caprese sandwiches, pasta, and pizza as well. Caprese salad is named for the location where it was created – the isle of Capri. Although no one knows exactly why or when it was created, it’s widely believed that it was created to honor the Italian flag due to its color scheme.
If you want to try a Caprese salad in the most authentic environment possible, head to Capri and enjoy the dish as an antipasto, or appetizer, before your meal. There are countless restaurants that offer the dish but many food critics recommend Villa Verde in Capri.
Cannoli
A classic Southern Italian dessert staple, cannoli is a treat consisting of sweet rolled fried pastry dough filled traditionally with ricotta although there are other variants that include fruit, chocolate, and more. Cannoli is a Sicilian dish that dates back as early as 827 BC. Some have speculated that the dish originated in Palermo as a festive treat during Carnival.
One of the best places in Sicily to get cannoli is Laboratorio Pasticceria Roberto. Located in Messina, this delightful bakery offers an assortment of treats that are baked fresh daily.
Burrata
Burrata is a mozzarella and cream-based Italian cow milk cheese (occasionally buffalo milk). The outside is solid cheese, while the inside is filled with stracciatella and cream for a unique, soft texture. Although the actual inventor of the dish has been disputed, the most recent theory is that Lorenzo Bianchini of the Piana Padura farm invented burrata in 1956.
Burrata must be eaten fresh and is typically enjoyed with salad or crusted bread. Sample it anywhere in Puglia to get the most authentic experience.
Pizza
Pizza is one of the world’s most popular kinds of food and many cultures have had their own version of a flatbread dish. The most common type of pizza that is loved by many originated in Naples. You can grab a slice when you visit the Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba, the world’s oldest pizzeria. The Mastunicola, topped with lard, sheep’s milk cheese, and basil, was a popular option on the menu when they first opened and you can order the same dish to this day.
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Planning to visit Southern Italy on your next trip to Europe?
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