Sicilian fried pizza: the Siciliana from Zafferana Etnea that you absolutely must know about

Did you know that fried pizza is also Sicilian? Although the origin of fried pizza is attributed to the Neapolitans, the Sicilians too can count this delicious recipe among their different pizza variants!
No, it is not a fried calzone, typical of the Palermo tradition. True, we have talked about many traditional Sicilian dishes and, in particular, Sicilian street food, but today I want to talk to you about a dish that you did not even think belonged to Sicily: fried pizza!
Originally, fried pizzas were sold in the streets and were not stuffed. In fact, it was a humble dish, as opposed to the classic pizza. A real street food dish, simple and cheap, eaten directly on the street.
Sicilian fried pizza is seasoned in different ways, depending on the province and the typical traditions of the different places where it is prepared. The ingredients to make a really tasty fried pizza? Tomato, anchovies and pecorino cheese or caciocavallo and ricotta!
Whichever way you decide to season your Sicilian fried pizza, you will be surprised by the taste and texture of this dish!
La Siciliana: the history of Zafferana Etnea’s fried pizza
The art of Sicilian “rosticceria” is now known all over the world. In any corner of Sicily, you can walk into a tavola calda, a bar, and enjoy a calzone or an arancina. But fried pizza?
Well, you can enjoy fried pizza in some parts of Sicily, but especially in Zafferana Etnea, in eastern Sicily. It is here, in this beautiful town in the province of Catania, that the fried pizza was born.
The Sicilian fried pizza of Zafferana Etnea, called La Siciliana, is a tasty pizza born almost 100 years ago. It was born, in fact, in 1924, from the mind and hands of a woman known to all as Donna Peppina, who founded the historical pastry shop of the same name that is still renowned and well-known in the towns of Catania.
Donna Peppina decided to make the first Sicilian fried pizza, to delight the palates of the townspeople with new flavours far removed from the traditional ones.
How La Siciliana is prepared
This Sicilian fried pizza has a different flavour and texture from the Sicilian fried calzone. It is soft, fluffy and crunchy at the same time, but never oily. It is also different from other Sicilian pizzas such as sicilian sfincione or pizza with potatoes.
The dough is prepared with 00 flour and the filling consists mainly of tuma cheese, salted anchovies and black olives. Thanks to the special cooking in boiling oil, the temperature of which, however, must not exceed 180°, it is a real treat and a joy for the palate!
However, this original recipe has been replaced over time by other tasty variants that include, for example, mozzarella and ham. Two ingredients that this pizza has in common with the Sicilian calzone fritto!
There is also a sweet variant of the Sicilian fried pizza, prepared with a ricotta or hazelnut cream filling. The result is the same: crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a stringy topping to savour bite after bite.
Where better to enjoy it than in the Piazza of Zafferana Etnea?
Other gastronomic specialities of Zafferana Etnea
Although we have spoken of Zafferana Etnea as the home of the Sicilian fried pizza, you should know that this extraordinary village at the foot of Mount Etna, visited every year by thousands of tourists from all over the world, is also known for many other culinary delights.
Among them, honey! Zafferana Etnea, in fact, is known as the City of Honey because it is here that honey is produced and packaged thanks to the long and historical tradition of beekeeping, deeply rooted in the history of this enchanting place.
Typical of Zafferana are the ‘Sciatore‘ biscuits, delicious milk biscuits covered in dark chocolate. Why are they called that? Well, because they were the favourite biscuits of skiers who chose Etna for their descents in the snow. Cold meats and cheeses, such as provola and pecorino from Etna, are also inevitable.
Sicilian fried pizza: your turn!
Now that you’ve learned all about La Siciliana, the Sicilian fried pizza that everyone loves, you just have to try making it at home and topping it with your favourite ingredients!
Did you already know this Sicilian dish? Have you ever tried it? Let us know in the comments!