Top Sicilian Culinary Delights Not to Be Missed

You really haven't experienced a place if you haven't sampled everything that the local cuisine has to offer. If you're renting out villas in Sicily and are hungering for the local delights, you should make the effort to seek out these highlights of Sicilian cuisine.

1. Caponata - this particular eggplant dish is distinctly Sicilian, with tomato, onions, pine nuts, olives and olive oil tossed into the fray. This is a filling dish that is served cold or at room temperature and is definitely one you should keep an eye out for.

2. Maccu di Favi - this deceptively simple soup is extremely satisfying to the tongue and belly: Fava beans and chili pepper are topped off with fennel in the traditional way. This ancient soup recipe is best eaten with toasted bread and a light layer of olive oil for good measure. 3. Polpettine alla Griglia - these grilled meatballs are the Sicilian counterpart to the traditional burger on the grill. The difference is for these you have veal (or pork), lemon leaves and pecorino Siciliano, all creating a thick and savoury yet oddly refreshing palette of flavours to help temper the intense flavour of the meat.

4. Pasta Siracusana – how could you go past anchovies and pepperoncini in pasta deglazed with white wine? This subtly spicy and fishy is a local dish and a true must-try on your trip to the island. Toss in some parsley, breadcrumbs and diced cherry tomatoes and you have a dish that is both filling and refreshing at the same time.

5. Fritteda – this is the local version of sweet and sour vegetables, with lemon juice, pepper, sugar, vinegar and nutmeg providing the flavour. Artichokes, fava beans and fava peas provide the bulk of the dish, which is served cool or at room temperature.

6. Farsumagru - if you get tired of all the vegetables and seafood, why not try this hearty meat roll filled to capacity with eggs, cheese, salami, prosciutto and peas for good measure. You'll find this on many menus of the restaurants around any villas in Sicily.

7. Impanata di Pesce Spada - swordfish pie is as Sicilian as you can get, especially when the pie is jam-packed with raisins, olives, capers, cheese and pine-nuts. To be honest, though, you can see a lot of Spanish influence in the way this particular dish is prepared.

8. Alici Alle Arance - you wouldn't believe how well salads with oranges and salted anchovies work out. The earthy substance of the greens, the zest of the oranges and the intense saltiness of the anchovies all blend together in an explosion of flavours that will leave you wanting more - which is why this dish is a popular starter on the island.

Keep these dishes in mind and you'll have a much wider selection of culinary delights to try out when you book a holiday in one of the fabulous 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.