Agrigento's cuisine is a story of sea, countryside and conquests: Greeks, Arabs and peasant tradition have left unique flavours on the table. After reading what to eat in Agrigento, here are the 8 most famous typical Agrigento dishes to try at least once: ingredients, history and when to enjoy them.
1. Pasta con le sarde
The quintessential Sicilian first course: bucatini with fresh sardines, wild fennel, pine nuts, raisins, saffron and toasted breadcrumbs. A sweet-and-sour balance of Arab-Sicilian origin, perfect in spring.
2. Fish couscous
Arab heritage of the Agrigento coast: steamed couscous served with a fragrant mixed-fish broth. Enjoy it along the coast, from San Leone onwards.
3. Caponata
Sicily's most iconic appetiser: fried aubergines in a sweet-and-sour sauce with celery, capers, green olives, tomato and a touch of vinegar. Served at room temperature, great with bread.
4. Sarde a beccafico
Sardines opened and stuffed with breadcrumbs, pine nuts and raisins, rolled and baked with bay leaves. The name recalls the beccafico, the fig-loving little bird: a seafood classic.
5. Arancine
Sicily's most famous street food: breaded, deep-fried rice balls filled with ragu and peas. Crisp outside, soft inside: perfect to eat as you stroll the old town.
6. Cannoli
The world's most famous Sicilian dessert: a crisp fried pastry shell filled to order with very fresh ricotta cream, chocolate chips and candied fruit. Not to be missed.
7. Cassata siciliana
The icon of Sicilian pastry: sponge cake, sweet ricotta, green marzipan, icing and candied fruit. A triumph of festive colours and flavours.
8. Almond sweets
Agrigento is a land of almonds, celebrated by the Almond Blossom Festival: soft almond pastries, mostaccioli and fragrant biscuits. The most Agrigento-style sweet ending there is.
Where to enjoy typical Agrigento dishes
To taste these flavours, head for the trattorias of the historic centre and of Via Atenea, a stone’s throw from our B&B. Want to discover the sights too? Read what to see in Agrigento.
The B&B Miravalle is your BB in central Agrigento: sleep just steps from the best trattorias, the Valley of the Temples and Via Atenea. Contact us and book your stay direct, among the flavours of Sicily.
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