Arancini, Fritters, and Snacks
Standbys
Arancini di Riso
Few dishes
can better reveal Sicily's past than these tastily stuffed rice fritters, which
are excellent as snacks, antipasti, or even a simple meal.
Difficulty:
Moderate
Bread Pizza with Black Olives: Pizza di Pane
alle Olive Nere
A quick, tasty snack made by topping an
open-faced focaccia; it's perfect in the evening with a beer
too.
Difficulty: Easy
Bruschetta
Being rubbed with
garlic and drizzled with oil is one of the nicest things that can happen to
sliced bread. Ideal for barbecues too!
Difficulty: Easy
Buricche: Puff Pastries with a Meat
Filling
Buricche are an Italian Jewish version of a Turkish
pastry called Burchitas, and are traditionally enjoyed for Purim.
Cazzilli
Sicilian potato
fritters that closely resemble fritters both Moroccan and Genoese. From my
review of Anissa Helou's Mediterranean Street Food
Difficulty: Moderate
Focaccia with Cheese: Focaccia col
Formaggio
Cheese-filled focaccia is a stunning treat, and a
perfect antipasto too.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Olives Ascolana Style: Olive
all'Ascolana
Olives, stuffed with a zesty combination of meat
and cheese, and fried. Delicious!
Difficulty: Moderate
Pannelle
Chickpea fritters
people enjoy in the streets in Palermo -- both sweet and savory versions.
Difficulty: Easy
Supplì al Telefono
Roman rice balls with a shredded meat and mozzarella-based filling.
Difficulty: Moderate
Stuffed Fried Friarelli: Friarelli Ripieni e
Fritti
Friarelli are medium sized, slender, thin-walled, mild,
pale green peppers that work very well when stuffed with a breadcrumb filling
and fried
Difficulty: Easy
Other Antipasti
Apricot Skewers with Prosciutto -- Spiedini di
Albicocca al Prosciutto Crudo
The tart sweetness of dried
apricots beautifully compliments the saltiness of prosciutto, and this will be
equally nice as an antipasto or as party food, though if you put it out at a
party you will have to increase the recipe substantially.
Difficulty: Easy
Arancini di Riso ai Gamberetti
Rice croquettes with a tasty shrimp filling.
Difficulty: Moderate
Arancini di Riso al Prosciutto
Cotto
Rice croquettes with a quick, easy ham filling.
Difficulty: Moderate
Arancini di Riso al Ragout
Rice croquettes with a veal ragout filling, which is quicker than that of the
classic recipe.
Difficulty: Moderate
Arancini di Riso ai Funghi
Rice croquettes with a mushroom filling that tastes of fall.
Difficulty:
Moderate
Arancini di Riso with Ricotta, or Arancini di
Riso con Ricotta
Arancini, stuffed fried rice balls, are one
of the world's finest street foods. This particular variation on the theme is
trapanese.
Bruschetta with Garlic Cream: Bruschetta con
Crema di Aglio
Something for the garlic lovers among us to
enjoy!
Difficulty: Easy
Cheese Torte: Torta di
Formaggio
A cheese torte may sound simple, but can be
exraordinary.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Fried Meat Delfina Style: Carne Farcita alla
Delfina
Tasty fried meat and cheese sandwiches that will work
nicely as an antipasto or perk up tired appetites
Difficulty: Moderate
Fried Mozzarella, or Mozzarella Fritta
You might not think to fry a cheese that becomes stringy when
hot, but with a crunchy breadcrumb coating it's delicious.
Difficulty:
Easy
Frittatas: Frittate
A thinly
sliced frittata is a wonderful appetizer. Here are general instructions and
several varieties.
Difficulty: Moderate
Isernian Calzoni, or Calzoni Ripieni
d'Isernia
Most calzoni are pizzas, folded over and baked.
These are instead stuffed with a savory ricotta filling and
fried.
Difficulty: Easy
Lodigiana-Style Polenta Fritters: Frittelle di
Polenta alla Lodigiana
Polenta fritters filled with
prosciutto and cheese. The perfect tidbit!
Difficulty: Moderate
Mortadella and Grana Padano
Fritters
Tasty fritters made with Mortadella and Grana are an
excellent antipasto or addition to a platter of fried foods.
Difficulty:
Moderate
Panzarotti
Neapolitan fried
ravioli.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Pettole
The bread dough
fritters given the poor by Baby Jesus.
Difficulty: Moderate
Polenta Squares with Gorgonzola, or Crostoni al
Gorgonzola
Polenta is remarkably versatile, and is a fine
base for crostini too. An excellent antipasto or party
food.
Difficulty: Easy
Polenta Viandese Style: Polenta alla
Viandese
Polenta, seasoned with lemon zest, sugar, and fried:
a traditional snack or breakfast in Mantova.
Difficulty: Easy
Polenta with Beans: Polenta coi
Fasoi
Polenta with beans, a tasty antipasto, or a nice
accompaniment to a roast or stew.
Difficulty: Moderate
Provolone Croquettes: Polpettine di
Provolone
Most meatballs are meat-based. These, instead, are
made with cheese, and will work nicely in a quick lunch. They'll also make a
nice antipasto or party food. Difficulty:
Easy.
Rice balls: Palle di Riso
Neapolitan rice croquettes with a pea, meat, and mozzarella-based filling.
Difficulty: Moderate
Roman Fried Meat: Carne Fritta alla
Romana
Quickly fried sandwiches stuffed with meat are the perfect
thing for perking up an appetite, and excellent finger food too.
Difficulty:
Moderate
Savory Puffs: Bombe e Pasta Siringa
A creamy batter that puffs up into delightful fritters; you can make them
either savory or sweet.
Difficulty: Moderate
Sweet Potato Ravioli: Ravioli di Patata
Americana
Stuart Borken's variation on butternut squash
filled ravioli involves sweet potatoes; in small portions it makes a great
antipasto.
Difficulty: Intermediate-Advanced
An Italian Tuna Sandwich - Sandwich Con Tonno, Capperi e Olive
You might not think of a tuna sandwich as being particularly Italian. However, most Italians, especially those with more demanding jobs, eat out at least once a day and a full meal simply won't work if one has to then head back to the office and be productive.
Yogurt Raita with Hot Pepper
Grissini
A zesty antipasto, crunchy bread sticks with a
creamy, cheesy dip.
Difficulty: Easy
If you haven't found what you're looking for, please ask!
