In this video, I am in Palermo and will show you how to enjoy an iconic street food item of Palermo by cooking it at home. Yes, I admit I am cheating a bit, but I don’t care. This is an easy traditional Palermo street food recipe that you can enjoy in your Airbnb.
If you are on a budget, this is a great way to enjoy the local street food of Palermo without breaking the bank. It will give you an authentic experience.
This is an excellent idea if you are in Palermo, staying in an Airbnb, or have access to a kitchen.
Sicilian versus Italian Language Example
I am visiting a place called Za Teresa, also known as Aunt Theresa’s place. In Sicilian, they use “za,” but in Italian, the word for “aunt” is “zia.”
What are Panelle in Palermo, Italy?
I bought some premade panelle, which are chickpea fritters made with water, salt, and parsley. Chickpeas are the same beans utilized in making hummus. I also bought some croccchè, a fried potato fritter. It is similar to a hash-brown.
Panelle are usually served within a sesame-seeded bread roll called a panino (sandwich). The word for bread in Italian is pane, so together they are called pane e panelle.
The panelle with bread is very filling and tied to the city’s Arab culture. The Arabs introduced chickpeas to Sicily. The Arabs ruled Sicily from the 9th to the 11th centuries, but their impact on the city of Palermo remains prevalent today.
How much do Panelle cost in Palermo?
I bought 30 chickpea fritters and five potato fritters for about 7 euros. The bread at the local market was also a couple of euros. We used peanut oil, but you can use any oil for frying.
My Sicilian relatives will sprinkle some lemon juice on the panelle, but I like to use ketchup, much to their horror and dismay.
You can pair this meal with some fruits and vegetables, accompanied by a beer or a glass of local wine. Thus, you will enjoy a traditional Sicilian meal at a great price!
The beer sold at this shop is approximately $1.50 per beer. You can see some of the menu items in this little food shop.
Menu Sections of this Sicilian Eatery
panini – sandwiches
tavola calda – hot plates
insalate – salads
primi – first dishes, pasta
secondi – second dishes, meat, fish, chicken
bibite – drinks
Italian Vocabulary related to the Sicilian video
Fish – pesce
Aunt – zia or za in Sicilian
Beer – birra
Peanuts – arachide
Peanut oil – oglio di arachide
Olive oil – oglio di olive
Also seen in the video is an overlay image of the Mondello Beach Resort.
Panelle Recipe
Here is the recipe if you wanted to make the fritters yourself instead of buying them premade like I did in the video:
To make about 40 panelle
1 pound of chickpea flour (garbanzo flour)
water – you’ll need approximately 2 quarts
salt
Optional
minced parsley
lemon juice
Ketchup (an American idea)
Bring a saucepan with generously salted water to a boil, then stir in the chickpea flour with a wooden spoon (cucchiaio di legno) until a thick paste forms, with no lumps remaining. Pour the parsley on a pastry board. Then, pour the mixture onto the board. Spread the mixture out to about 1/4 inch high. Then cut into about 1 1-inch by 3-inch rectangles. Once the paste has cooled, fry it in hot oil or lard. They are best served warm with some bread, and you can sprinkle some lemon juice on them, or (for an American twist) they even taste great with a bit of ketchup.
Palermo, Sicily Vacation Guide Book
View my other blog posts and videos about Palermo, Italy
