Even if you're already familiar with Sicilian food served around the world, there's definitely nothing like having it in the country of origin will on holiday on one of the wonderful villas in Sicily. Pasta and other home-cooked traditional treats made from fresh produce and catch nearby; delightful sweets and savoury snacks by the roadside; and heavenly cakes, pastries and other desserts from artisanal shops - sampling authentic Sicilian delights is definitely an unforgettable experience.
Whether you are dining out in one of the wonderful bistros or traditional trattorias, or just wandering the streets grabbing a cannolo or granita, you'll definitely find this wonderful island is a food lover's paradise. During your holiday in one of the villas in Sicily, here are three top dishes you must try while here.

Arancini

One of the Sicilian staples you will most likely encounter on your wanderings around the towns and villages is arancini - essentially these are balls of creamy risotto rice, typically stuffed with cheese and meat, then breaded and fried to a golden crisp. This Sicilian savoury street food, said to have originated on the island in the 10th century, are small, round and coloured orange; the size and shape are reminiscent of an orange (or arancia) which is how it got its name (even though in some areas they may be cone-shaped). Traditional arancini are filled with melted cheese, peas, and a tomato-based meat sauce called ragu, although there are many variations on the filling. While the meat sauce version is most common in Sicily, they can also be filled with spinach, mushrooms, eggplant, or pistachios. You may find them sold in delicatessens packed and ready for tourists to take back to their villas in Sicily for their evening meal - it's far better than making your own!

Cannoli

The singular of this sweet is called cannolo, but you'll probably be having more than just one! This fried, crunchy dough with lusciously creamy and sweet ricotta cheese filling has certainly made its way outside Sicily, but there's nothing like savouring this iconic delight in the place it originated. If you're staying in one of the villas in Sicily around Palermo you'll be right at the source. The perfect cannoli should have light crispy shells that crumble with every bite, and a rich yet surprisingly light ricotta cream filling. The famous Prestipino Caf©, right by the Duomo in Catania, is said to offer the island's best cannoli: fresh, crunchy, with the creamiest filling ever, it's definitely something you mustn't leave without trying.

Pasta Alla Norma

According to folklore, a Sicilian chef was once so enamoured with €Norma€ - the Bellini opera - he created the fried eggplant dish in honour of the Catania native.
Perhaps one of the region's most famous pasta staples, and a dish native Sicilians grow up on, chances are you will have it several times when you're staying in one of those villas in Sicily. It is usually on a short pasta (like macaroni), with eggplant in a light tomato sauce and served with ricotta salata (hard, grated ricotta). This dish is at its best over the summer when eggplant is in season.