Find out what to eat in and around Catania

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Last Updated on 16 April 2024

Let’s find out what to eat in Catania and surroundings . As in all of Sicily, the dishes are the result of the intertwining and influence of numerous cultures and peoples who have colonized the island over the centuries. Below you will find a list of the typical products of Catania and surroundings, which you can try during your trip.

Table of Contents

Horse meat

Horse meat is very popular in Catania and is often served in a sandwich. You can find it in the itinerant sandwich shops scattered around the city, especially in the waterfront area.

Hot table

The diner is widespread throughout Sicily, but particularly in Catania where you can find a bit of everything. The king of the diner is certainly the arancino, which here is pointed and has an inverted cone shape in honor of the volcano Etna . Some of the other specialties are:

Spring onion: Stuffed with ham, tomato and onion
Bolognese: Pizza stuffed with tomato, mozzarella, ham and eggs
Fried or baked bomb: Stuffed with ham and cheese
Crispelle: Fried dough filled with ricotta or anchovies
Schiacciata: Savory pie topped with tuma

Street food at the fish market

U Mauru – Giuseppe Sorbello , CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

At the fish market you can try typical dishes some very special:

Quarumi, boiled veal tripe
Sangeli, pig’s blood cooked in intestine
U mauru, a red seaweed salad
U zuzzu, pork jelly

Seasoned sandwiches

Very popular are the sandwiches that you find at the itinerant sandwich bars scattered around the city, especially in the waterfront area. The toppings are very generous and the price is quite cheap. Sausages, cheeses, olives, horse meat, aubergines, mushrooms, peppers, fish, the choice is very wide.

Typical products

The typical products of the province of Catania certainly include honey from Zafferana, pistachio from Bronte, blood oranges, prickly pears and cherries from Etna, grapes from Mazzarone, wines from Etna and strawberries from Maletto.

Kiosks

Very characteristic are also the kiosks that you find scattered around the city. They date back to the early twentieth century and have a characteristic Liberty style. Here you can try seltz, that is sparkling water and flavors of your choice, such as lemon, mandarin, anise etc.