Try These Top 8 Local Delicacies of Sicily

If you've booked a holiday in one of the delightful villas in Sicily, you really must make a concerted effort to sample the myriad local culinary delights. No matter where you choose to stay, there will be some top-notch restaurants nearby to cater to your tastes.

What dishes exactly should you keep an eye out for, though, when you find yourself renting villas in Sicily? Here are eight of the top delicacies you absolutely must try.

1. Melone - melone, also known as watermelon, is the summer fruit of choice on the island, thanks to its refreshing and modestly sweet pulp. The best part is that you can gorge on as much watermelon as you want, since melone is widely available everywhere.
2. Pasta alla Norma - this vegetarian's delight is basically pasta with eggplant chunks in a richly herbed tomato sauce. The oregano, thyme and grated perocino enhance the basic tomato sauce with deliciously mouth-watering goodness.
3. Pasta con I Broccoli di Rabe - another pasta dish featuring vegetables, except the pasta is boiled together with the broccoli rabe - resulting in a light but hearty mix, especially when anchovies and sautéed garlic are tossed into the dish.
4. Arancine - these luscious balls of sinful delight are made of saffron rice with meat, cheese and/or tomato ragout; you'll find them in nearly every restaurant on the island, no matter where your villas in Sicily are located. The little balls are then rolled in flour, dipped in beaten eggs and rolled once again in breadcrumbs. The result - a compact meal that looks like a little orange (or arancine).
5. Cuscusu - you can determine the culinary significance the area by taste-testing a version of Sicilian couscous. Excellent cuscusu is made with perfectly rolled semolina grains that are steamed over fish broth, which is in turn mixed with just the right ratio of oily and white fish. The result is a delicious treat that releases strong but subdued flavours of the sea into your mouth.
6. Cannoli - this dish was made famous by the line "leave the gun, take the cannoli" in The Godfather, and there's a reason why it has a special place in the movie. Fill pasta tubes with various nuts, orange peels and ricotta cheese and you have a zesty yet filling meal on your hands.
7. Pasta al Nero di Seppia - want to challenge your taste buds? Order this spaghetti dish made from cuttlefish ink sacs mixed with salted ricotta cheese. It may look a bit weird at first but it is definitely a delicacy that you wouldn't want to miss.
8. Granita - want a simple icy treat to end a really good meal? Order this simple dessert made from granulated ice flavoured by various drinks like coffee, lemon or even almond milk. This is superb on a hot summer day.

Keep these simple dishes in mind and you'll be able to identify what to ask for when sampling the restaurants around your villas in Sicily.

Looking for your perfect home away from home in Italy? Mark Slaviero is a Director of Holiday Homes in Italy, a company specialising in finding the holiday home, villa or apartment of your dreams. For the ideal villas in Sicily and accommodation in Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, the Italian Lakes, ski resorts and more, we offer the best in every region.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.