Google Italian food and immediately images of wood-fired pizzas and heaping plates of pasta pop-up. Like many, even after years of living in Italy, I don’t associate Italy with street food. We put the question to our Facebook community and taco carts were mentioned more than once along with Korean Yaki Mandu, steaming bowls of pho eaten on tiny chairs curbside in Vietnam, and lamb hot dogs smothered in rémoulade, crunchy fried onions, and sweet mustard at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur. So when I happened to spot a Street Food Village coming to Belluno and I saw there would be a taco cart all the way from Mexico, I knew where I’d be spending my weekend! The Belluno Street Food Village is part of the Streetfood.it traveling tour, an Italian association that has been perfecting Italian recipes from all the regions of Italy that can be eaten while walking on the street. But if you can’t make it to one of the Streetfood.it tour locations or can’t wait until next year’s tour, here’s 5 Italian street foods to try and where to find them:
1. Fried Olives (Olive Ascolana)
In Le Marche, a region that lies between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea, Olive Ascolana is the culinary signature. The olives stuffed with ground meat and then lightly breaded and fried originated in Ascoli-Piceno, a town in the southern part of the region, and spread north. The green olive used to make Olive Ascolana are a special variety only grown in this area of Italy. You’ll find them on the menu at various wine bars and trattorie in Le Marche and they can even be bought in cartoccio (a paper cone) to eat on the go!
2. Cannoli
One of the most classic Italian desserts, cannoli originated from Palermo in Sicily. The pastry dough is shaped into a tube and fried. A creamy filling of sweet ricotta, often with chocolate chips mixed in, is piped into the tube. The dessert is finished off with a candied cherry on one end and a candied orange peel on the other. These days cannoli can be found all over Italy, but the best ones come from Sicily. This is the messiest of the Italian street foods, so be sure to grab a couple of extra napkins!
3. Fried Rice Balls (Arancini)
Arancini are fried balls of rice usually filled with meat ragu, cheese, and peas, although there are many different varieties these days. Arancini also originated in Sicily in the 10th century and Sicilians love to eat them as snacks! They’re the pride of Sicilian rotisseries and you’ll find them all throughout the island.
4. Gelato
Even though gelato is technically the Italian word for ice cream, it is very different as I learned when I attended the Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna. Though the history of gelato dates back to ancient times when snow was brought down from the mountains and preserved under ground, the first gelato cart didn’t appear until some time in the 1920s – 1930s in Varese in Northern Italy. Today it’s probably the most consumed street food throughout the country, though certainly the best I’ve ever had was at the Carpigiano Gelato University lab, where serious students aspiring to own their own gelato shops, perfect their skill.
5. Porchetta Romana
Usually salted heavily and stuffed with garlic, rosemary, herbs, porchetta is moist roast pork that is usually served from a van, like a street food truck, as a panino (sandwich). Though popular all throughout Italy, it originated in Ariccia, a province of Rome, hence the name porchetta romana. It can also be bought by the kilo and makes a great sandwich meat to store for a few days in the fridge!
Kenin Bassart says
Thanks for making me hungry!!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Then my job is done! 😉
Val says
I ate gelato three times a day last time I was in Italy! Love the arancini, too!
Larry says
I’ll have some fried olives please….
Jennifer Dombrowski says
They were really good! I found a recipe and may have to try to make them at home.
Stef says
I’d love to try the fried olives! yummi 🙂
When I was in Sicily ages ago I tried these rice balls, they are really tasty as well, I totally forget about that, so thanks for remembering 😉
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We’ve really got to get to Sicily! I can’t believe we’ve lived in Italy for over 4 years now and haven’t been yet.
Stef says
Yes you have to go there, it’s so close. I learned Italian in high school and my teacher was such an incredible Sicily fan and of course our school cooperates with a school in Sicily so we had the chance to do a 2-weeks exchange. so it’s really a long time ago, but there are a lot of pretty spots, Cefalu was the town I liked most.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
That’s great you did an exchange program in Sicily with your school! I did something similar in Costa Rica when I was in high school.
We live in the north of Italy, so Sicily isn’t so close. But hopefully we’ll make it there soon!
TurtlesTravel Blog says
Wow! Can't believe I clicked over to this post instead of finding a place to eat lunch, but now I'm inspired. Delicious!
Ami says
Street food is my favorite – I live on gelato when in Italy!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Sounds about right, Ami! Do you have a favorite flavor of gelato? I love the fruit gelato, especially green apple!
Ami says
I love the fruit as well, and the milk flavor. My husband thinks I’m crazy but I often get a milk and lemon combo!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Lemon is so refreshing, especially on a hot day! I just tried lime for the first time over the weekend and it is also refreshing. Try lemoncello next time you see it!
Mica says
Fried rice balls sound amazing! I love things like that- even fried mac and cheese balls. YUM.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Fried mac and cheese balls?! That sounds really good!
Victor Tribunsky says
It is very interesting investigation; however, Italian cuisine one can investigate forever.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
So true, Victor! There are so many different types of foods from the regions.
Janice Stringer says
Really interesting – I’m just getting into the street food scene as a Caterer myself in England and love to see what is going on elsewhere – the rice balls look delicious. So that I can work in the UK and blog, write and travel as well.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
How fun! What are some popular British street foods?
Jennifer says
Sorry to distract you from lunch! Hope you found somewhere good to eat!
jill says
Everything sounds delicious. I’m not a big fan of olives, but deep fried ones? I guess I’m willing to give it a try since I believe deep-fried [anything] would be delicious 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Haha! Too funny, Jill! They were delicious and didn’t taste olive-y at all because of the stuffing and being deep fried.
Blaise Chessup says
I never knew you could do that to an olive! Mouthwatering!
Jennifer says
Ha! Sounds about right. Gelato was a staple of our diet on our first trip to Italy. We eat it less since we've lived here, but a walk to the town gelato shop on a hot day is a nice way to get out of the house.
Jennifer says
From what we understand, it is not easy to stuff the olives with all the meaty-cheesy goodness.
Cathy Sweeney says
I’ll bet the fried olives are wonderful — but the sodium! I wish I could find a good cannoli here at home. The ones in the pic look tasty.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
The cannoli were so delicious! She was making everything fresh right there. It was the best one I’ve ever had!
Frank says
Good post! One of my frustrations in Italy was the lack of street food. Apart from pizza joints (which were surprisingly disappointing) there seems to be little choice but to site down somewhere for a 3 hr meal. Gets a little tiring after a while.
Covered the same subject on our Cortona post (which by the way is one of the loveliest little towns in Italy): http://bbqboy.net/cortona-italy/
Good job!
Frank
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Meal time is an important affair and so the Italians like to sit down for a long meal to share and socialize over. It’s hard to get used to and can be frustrating for a traveler when they feel pressed on time to see things.
Naomi says
Wow…Italy is definitely not a country I’d associate with street food. Never knew you could find all this stuff. The arancini (well, a possible vegetarian version…) and gelato look the best! :9
Jennifer Dombrowski says
There are also vegetarian versions of arancini! A popular veggie version is with tomato sauce and mushrooms. Yum!
Jemma says
All the food mentioned here look so delicious. And I can’t believe that gelato is just street food in Italy because we consider it as something special here in our country.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Gelato is relatively easy to make with the proper equipment and is readily available throughout Italy.
Bethaney Davies says
Holy heck that porchetta romana looks good!
Linda Dini Jenkins says
Street food alla Italia! Bene, bene!
Andrea says
Yum, yum! I never think about street food in Italy – I haven’t spent enough time in the smaller towns. Looks so amazing (like everything else edible in the country)
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I live here and clearly never thought about street food before! Now I’ll be on the lookout more for local street foods.
Charu says
I loved the gelato and granita in Sicily. The cannolis are terrific too! I miss the pizza…
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Granitas are perfect in summer! Just not a fan of the menta (mint) granitas. They can taste a bit like Listerine.
Michael says
mmmm I can’t wait to be eating all of that on a regular basis.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
We’ll practically be neighbors! 😉
Sabine Schroeder says
not to mention sfincioni, street food of Palermo – cannoli are not real street food, maybe you can buy them at this lady on the pic, normally you get them in pastry shops. In Sicily pizza is street food, cartucciate, panini and I am very happy that you mentioned our ARANCINI – so yummy.
Heather says
I’ve had all of these, but none in Italy. I imagine the genuine articles are so much better!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Most I haven’t had outside of Italy, but the cannoili are so much better. We get them from the bakery at the store, but even the difference between the bakery and fresh at this street food festival was amazing!
Jennifer says
So yummy! I can't wait to pick up some more porchetta romana.
Jennifer says
Street food is really anything you can buy and take on the go. In Sicily, they must not eat pizza with a fork and knife then? I can't imagine eating Italian pizza on the go.
thefancyvoyager says
The cannoli looks so good! And the fried rice balls! Gosh, don’t even get me started on the gelato haha. Italian street food should definitely get more coverage by people!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I agree! I will especially be on the lookout for the fried olives now. So good!
Lauren says
Porchetta Romana and Gelato seem like definite NEED to try 🙂 Yum, thanks for sharing!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Oh yes, Lauren, gelato is essential to an Italian holiday!
Christoffer Moen says
Oh my. You had me at “Porchetta Romana”. Great post, btw. Bookmarked this for future gastronomic tour of Italy that for sure. Cheers.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Glad to hear you enjoyed the post, Christoffer!
Dana Carmel says
Wow – fried olives?! That’s a first! I’ve made the fried rice balls before and they’re delicious, but probably not as delicious as the ones you can buy in Sicily. And the gelato looks so good! Thank God for Italians’ contribution to the world of food!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
No kidding, right Dana?! Italy sure it delicious!
Victoria says
That is a truly mouthwatering post. The fried olives are a new one to me – I’ve never seen them before and we drove through Le Marche one summer. They look amazing – I’d like one right now! In fact I’d just like to transport myself to Italy!!
Jennifer Dombrowski says
I’ve been living in Italy for 4 years and they were new to me too! And then I saw them on a restaurant menu the other day. It’s entirely possible I’ve just totally glanced over them, never giving them a second thought. Now I know better!
Marcia says
Great list, Jennifer!
It’s just past midnight here but all this food’s making me hungry! I could start with the Porchetta Romana – I LOVE pork! – with some fried rice balls – never had those but they sound delicious — and some olives. I’d end with some gelato. Yummy!
Thanks for linking up, this week. I look forward to reading more about food from Italy.
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Midnight snack maybe? Porchetta on a roll with a bit of mayonnaise and heated up quickly always makes a great snack. 🙂
Mike says
The fried rice balls and fried fried olives looked so incredibly, delicious! Thank you for wonderful food journey and great pics! 🙂
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Funny enough, we tried out a new restaurant by our house last week and they had the fried olives on the menu! I’d never seen them on a restaurant menu in our region before.
Sabine Schroeder says
in Sicily and the rest of Italy) you can even eat your pizza without fork and knife in the restaurants 🙂
Jennifer says
Hmm. We live in Italy and generally only foreigners trying to eat pizza without a fork and knife. They usually give up pretty quickly, because Italian pizza is very thin and not at all easy to pick up.
Sabine Schroeder says
@Jdomb's Travels: I do not know where in Italy you live, but in Sicily and also in Rome many Italians eat their pizza without fork and knife- no problem if the pizzais like it should be, thin but crispy 🙂
Alessia says
My mom is from Ascoli and we just spent Christmas and New Years there. The food is truly amazing and we ate so many fried olives, creminis, chicken cutlets and fried artichokes! They are so hard to find in je states so we are left to make them on our own! Good pick for calling out Ascoli. It often flies under the radar.
Mari says
Trapizzino! First time I’ve been to Rome, one local guy said me “If you don’t try Trapizzino then you’ve never been to Italy”
Jennifer Dombrowski says
Trapizzino is delicious too! They are like mini arancini.