If you only have on day in Sicily (which sounds crazy but could happen if you’re on a cruise), you could easily spend the entire day eating street food in a city like Catania or Messina. This is especially true in Palermo where open air markets like Mercato Ballaro and Mercato del Capo bustle with activity.
It’s fun to walk through those markets and gawk at the various hawkers and grill masters doing their foodie thing. However, the real fun involves eating the fruits of their labor. And, by fruit, we mean any and every animal part plus seafood plucked from the ocean and fried treats galore.
17. Arancini
Arancini in Cefalu and Palermo | Image: ©2foodtrippers
Invented ten centuries ago and influenced by Sicily’s Arab conquerers, arancini were named after the Italian word for oranges (arance). Coincidentally, arancini look but taste nothing like oranges.
Round in shape, filled with rice and fried to crispy goodness, palm-sized arancini are easy to eat without utensils and don’t make a mess. Plus, and most important, the Sicilian street food star tastes great thanks to extra bits like cured meat, ragù and cheese.
You can find tasty arancini at Sicilian markets as well as at bakeries and dedicated eateries. We found our favorites at I Segreti di Chiostro and Kapelle during different foodtripping expeditions.
Fun Fact
Arancini are called arancine in Western Sicily. The name is slightly different but the crispy goodness is the same.
Dining and Cooking