Sicilian Cooking Workshop
As part of our women's photography retreat, we experienced the rich flavors and traditions of Sicilian cuisine, tasted plenty of street food in Palermo, explored vibrant markets and participated in cooking workshops led by local women. Two local women hosted a Sicilian food tour and cooking class for our group and provided us with an immersive experience that deepened my understanding of Sicilian cuisine. Connecting with locals is one of my favorite ways to travel, and this hands-on experience gave me a new appreciation for Palermo's rich culinary heritage.
At the end of this post, I've included a simple yet delicious bruschetta recipe you can try at home. Buon appetite!
PALERMO FOOD MARKET TOUR
Paola and her cooking partner led us on a tour through Palmero's bustling market and taught us about Sicilian culinary traditions. After gathering the ingredients we needed, Paola and her co-host drove us to their rustic farmhouse and graciously opened their kitchen to us for a cooking workshop where we made bruschetta, a variety of fresh pastas, and enjoyed other Sicilian culinary delights.
Shopping for our ingredients at Palermo’s famous food market.
CONNECTING WITH SICILIAN CULTURE THROUGH FOOD
We visited their rustic, historic property, a 20-minute drive from Palermo. Surrounded by an open landscape, their restored farmhouse had a large courtyard off the kitchen, where we enjoyed an evening of eating, drinking, and learning traditional cooking techniques together.
We learned how to make a variety of pasta from scratch using ancient Sicilian grains (Perciasacchi and Tumminia) ground by stone to make the flour. It was fun to learn new techniques, and I enjoyed making—and eating—every dish!
In my experience, cooking together is one of the best ways to get to know someone and having a group of women from all different backgrounds around the table made it this workshop more delightful!
Cavatelli pasta is rolled out on a ridged wooden board.
MAKING FRESH PASTA THE TRADITIONAL WAY
It was fun to learn new techniques, and I enjoyed making—and eating—every dish!
The ricotta-filled ravioli and crispy sun dried tomato tarts were two of my favorite dishes.
Tria is one of the oldest pasta shape made from a thin sheet that’s cut into wide strips.
My first time making cavatelli pasta by hand.
We ended the evening wtih a homemade Sicilian pistachio tarte. It was a great way to mark the occasion at the end of our week-long photography retreat in Sicily.
SICILIAN BRUSCHETTA RECIPE
Bruschetta is a beloved and traditional dish, and if you've never tried it before, don't work, it's very simple to create! A delicious bruschetta recipe centers around quality ingredients — fresh, locally sourced tomatoes and herbs paired with crisp rustic bread. Discover the recipe below!
Fresh tomatoes from the market
BRUSCHETTA STEP BY STEP
Rustic Italian bread, sliced and toasted
20-25 small tomatoes on the vine
4 garlic cloves, minced
5 - 8 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
Fresh basil leaves (about 6-8, plus more for garnish)
Pepper and coarse sea salt to taste
Optional: grated cheese and/or a drizzle of balsamic glaze
Dice the tomatoes and drain some of the juice, then add to a mixing bowl. Mince garlic, chop basil, and add to the mixing bowl with olive oil. Gently mix.
Slice and toast the bread (bonus points for rubbing with a garlic clove) top each slice with a hearty scoop of the tomato mix. Add more basil to garnish.
Optional: Sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese and/or a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
CURIOUS FOR MORE ABOUT OUR SICILY ADVENTURE?
Read about our women’s photography retreat in Sicily.
Check out my analog photography series in Sicily.
Discover the food markets in Palermo.
Follow along on Instagram.
