Anyone that knows us will know that food is a big part of any holiday for us! With the incredible talent that Italians have for creating the most wonderful dishes, it’s not a coincidence that we chose to specialise in villas in Italy! It sometimes feels that Italian food just gets better and better the further south you travel so, situated in Italy’s heel, you can expect the food in Puglia to be pretty special! Here are our top 10 foods to try on your next Puglia villa holiday.
1) Taralli
Taralli are small ring shaped pieces of dried bread, similar to a breadstick or pretzel. If you’re planning on enjoying an aperitivo or two during your Puglia villa holiday, then these are a perfect snack with a glass of white wine at sunset. These small snacks can be sweet or savoury. The sweet ones are often glazed in sugar and go perfectly with a bit of Nutella. On the other hand, the savoury versions are often flavoured with garlic, onion, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, pepper or just salt. These are a must try if you are in Puglia and you can usually find them in supermarkets or small shops.
2) Orochchiette
Translated as ‘little ears’ these small pasta shapes are delicious. To make this unique shape the pasta is cut up into small cubes, before being pressed with a knife on a board to make it curl. Orochiette can be served with any sauce but it is commonly served with some kind of sausage or meat sauce. The traditional recipe includes a bitter tasting vegetable that looks similar to sprouting broccoli – cima di rape – but all the recipes are equally delicious!
3) Burrata cheese
This cheese originally came from the city of Andria in Murgia in Puglia. The cheese has a soft and creamy texture and goes perfect with tomatoes, basil, grilled bread, roasted vegetables or prosciutto. Burrata was first made over 100 years ago from just three simple ingredients – cow’s milk, rennet (which is an enzyme that comes from the stomach of an unweaned calf) and cream. We highly recommend trying this traditional dish! And as it’s so simple to put together, it is the perfect choice for lunch or a starter during your Puglia villa holiday!
4) Olive oil
Puglia is known for it’s delicious olive oil due to it producing around 40% of the Italy’s olive oil each year (which is around 300,000 tonnes). You will be able to find local olive oil in small village shops and it’s the perfect accompaniment with some fresh bread. Many shops also sell flavoured olive oil such as chilli oil which is delicious on a pizza.
5) Focaccia
All over Italy there are different recipes for focaccia but the traditional way to eat it in Puglia is served with cherry tomatoes and a sprinkling of oregano on top. It is also commonly seen in a circular shape in this region and is more common than pizza. Focaccia can also be served with olives, caramelised onions or with just salt and rosemary. We highly recommend trying this local dish during your Puglia villa holiday if you haven’t already.
6) Altamura bread
This bread was originally made in the city of Altamura and dates back to the Roman times. The latin poet Horace described it as ‘the best bread in the world’. It is made from durum wheat flour and is a circular shape. Its thick crusts ensures that it lasts longer than other types of bread and we recommend you try it with some local olive oil or as bruschetta.
7) Pasticciotto
This is a type of Puglian filled pastry which can be sweet or savoury. If you are a fan of the Spanish Pasties de Nata then this is the Italian equivalent. It is a pastry filled with egg custard often eaten for breakfast or as a morning snack. We recommend you treat yourself to one of these delicious pastries especially if you are staying in or near Lecce on your Puglia villa holiday. You won’t be able to resist!
8) Panzerotti
This is very similar to calzone however a panzerotti is often a fried turnover rather than an oven baked one. Popular fillings include tomato, sausage, mozzarella, peppers, olives, mushrooms and many more. The name panzerotti comes from ‘panza‘ which translates literally as the ‘belly’. This is because the pocket filled pastry resembles a belly bloating! These are perfect for lunch or dinner.
9) Tiella
This is another traditional Puglian dish and can be easily made at home after your visit. The dish is named after the pan in which it is traditionally served and the rice is made in a more Spanish style due to it originating in the 16th century during the time when this part of Italy was under Spanish rule. The dish includes mussels, potatoes, rice, tomatoes and lots of herbs. Pair it with a glass of white wine for the perfect serving!
10) Pettole
These are small puffed up balls of dough which are soft and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. They are yet another dish which can be eaten with sweet or savoury filling and toppings. Savoury pettole are often seen with chopped anchovies or olives inside whereas sweet pettole can be eaten by just sprinkling some sugar on top.
Fancy trying some of these foods for yourself? Then check out the Puglia villa rentals available from Italian villa rental specialists, Bookings For You.