“Sfincione” from Palermo

Defined in local dialect as “scarsu r’oghhiu e chinu ri privulazzo” (with a little oil and full of dust) by the hawkers themselves, who advertise it by megaphone around the streets and lanes of Palermo, “sfincione” is one of the main street-foods of the Sicilian capital.

For those who wish to try out local specialities while visiting new places, then don’t miss out on an encounter with a “sfincionaro” to purchase the tasty treat which seems like a pizza but is not; the dough is softer than pizza with more yeast, and is seasoned with tomato sauce flavoured with onion, a touch of caciocavallo (local cheese), breadcrumbs and anchovies.

Not only street-hawkers sell sfincione, as you will also find it as eateries and sandwich shops in Palermo, however it will certainly but more expensive and with “more oil and less dust”. If you want to experience genuine Palermo culture, then head for the city centre at Via Bandiera where at the marketplace you will soon find the street-hawkers selling “sfincioni”.

So has “sfincione” won your palate over? Then it is time to confess that there are other versions which do not come from Palermo, and are highly competitive and similar in taste, such as the “sfincione” from the nearby town of Bagheria, with three delicious versions, one without tomato and flavoured with cheese and salt, another without tomato and with ricotta and a tomato flavoured sfincione.