Caponatina
Caponatina Zia Bettina, my father’s sister and the guardian and keeper of our family cooking recipes, made this classic, savory dish in huge amounts because it was tastier the next day. We enjoyed it as…
Appetizers
Eggplant Beccafico
Eggplant-Stuffed Beccafico (Melanzane a Beccafico) Beccafico (Sylvia borin) is a small songbird that nests in Tuscany and passes over Sicily in spring and fall for the winter migration. Those birds were stuffed and cooked in…
Eggplants Rolled with Ricotta
Eggplants Rolled with Ricotta ( Involtini di Melanzane con Ricotta – Milinjani ca’ Ricuotta e u’ Caciu) In the United States, Rolled Eggplants stuffed with ricotta are a very popular appetizer. You will find this…
Eggplant Croquettes
Eggplant Croquettes ( Polpette di Melanzane –Purpetti ri Milinciani ) A good vegetarian dish filled with elements available in the pantry of every Sicilian household, eggplant croquets can be served fried as an appetizer or…
Peperonata with Pineapple
Pepper Salad with Pineapple (Peperonata con Ananas – Pipi C’Acitu a Levantina) This exotic mixture of peppers, onions, tomato and pineapple with a hint of garlic is served in a sweet and sour sauce. It…
Caperberries Salad
Caper Berry and Tomato Salad (Capperoni e Pomidori all’Insalata – Cucunci e Pumaroru a ‘Nzalata’) Caper berries, tomato, olive oil, basil, oregano, salt and pepper make a healthy as well as tasty salad that goes…
Squash with Sweet & Sour Sauce
Squash with Sweet & Sour Sauce (Zucca all’Agrodolce – Cucuzza c’acitu – Ficatu ri puoveri ) To prepare this dish, you can use butternut squash, the acorn squash, Calabasas squash or pumpkin. Winter squash is…
Baked Clams
Baked CLAMS (Vongole Ripiene) Clams are a very popular antipasto in the United States, especially in the coastal areas. They can be served sautéed with garlic and oil, over pasta to make a fragrant and…
Nunnata Appetizer
Nunnata Appetizer Fishermen are allowed to catch the nunnata only for a short and limited period of time, usually fifteen days, between February 15 and April 15.Nunnata refers to just born sardines, anchovies or mackerel.The…
Shrimp Cocktail Gamberi
Shrimp Cocktail (Boiled Shrimps with Sauce) (Gamberi all’Americana – Ammaru Vughiutu) Shrimp cocktail is one of the most appealing and preferred antipasti. One and a half to two pounds of unpeeled shrimp of the “16/20”…