Puglia Food: Explore The Original Taste Of Salento And Its Delicacies

In older times food was simply anything that could be eaten to survive. Today, the world has shrunk and it’s much easier to get ingredients from all over the world. You can even sample local cuisines without visiting the country or area in question!

 It’s led to a huge array of culinary delights, many of which come from Italy. It is, after all, famous for its passion, cultural delights and some of the best food in the world. Puglia food is a perfect example of this and something that everyone should try at least once.

What Food Is Puglia Famous For?

You may not have heard of Puglia or the foods of Puglia. However, once you’ve sampled it, you’re certain to want more.

 Puglia is in the bottom part of Italy. The best way to describe its location is as the heel of Italy’s boot. There are several impressive dishes in the region, but you’ll probably find the typical products of Salento are the most delightful.

Puglia food, as with many Italian dishes, is surprisingly simple. It’s made with local ingredients, mixed with herbs and spices, and tastes amazing! Let’s take a look at some of the most common dishes.

Frisella

This is a type of bread, making it a practical and important food. It’s cooked in a stone oven with a drop of olive oil, creating a crunchy dry bread. This approach means it can be stored for long periods and still taste fantastic. You don’t have to make this yourself, you can even order them online.

Taralli

Taralli is best described as a cracker. It’s circular and is effectively Italy’s version of a pretzel. They come in a wide variety of flavors, including plain, (which can be put with vegetables in oil and salami for a traditional Italian appetizer), fennel, poppy seeds, or even with sugar for a sweeter option.

Puccia

This may look simplistic, but the taste is divine. It’s effectively a sandwich but the ‘bread’ is pizza dough. It’s stuffed with your choice of ingredients, such as meat, cheese, vegetables, or all three. Naturally, it’s served hot and Italians love eating this while on the go.

Orecchiette

You can’t go to any part of Italy without trying the local pasta. It’s different in each part of the country and the Puglia Italy food is no different. Orecchiette translates as “small ears”. That’s because the pasta is made to look like small ears. If you visit the region, you’ll find it being made on the streets. If you’re lucky, they’ll let you try it. It can be served with anything but the traditional option is with fresh tomatoes, garlic, ricotta cheese and broccoli rabe.

Baccalà Alla Salentina

This is a traditional dish from Puglia, specifically the Salentina area. It’s effectively dried and salted cod, but it tastes better than any dried and salted cod you’ll have ever tried before.The cod is wrapped in breadcrumbs, tomato and pecorino cheese before being baked to perfection.

Apulian Biscuits

If you want an authentic Italian cookie, then you need to try Apulian biscuits. These biscuits use almonds which are grown in the hot Puglia region in the south of Italy. They are effectively cookies rolled in sugar and covered in almonds. It’s a distinctive and delightful accompaniment to afternoon coffee.

Summing Up

The best way to fully appreciate the culinary delights and cooking skills of the Puglia region is to visit and sample Puglia foods yourself.

However, if this isn’t possible, then you can order a selection of traditional Puglia foods and enjoy them anywhere in the world. Why should the Italians have all the fun?