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.

Introducing Puglia

Puglia is in the bottom part of Italy. The best way to describe its location is as the heel of Italy’s boot. It used to be considered an underappreciated gem. Today, there are far more tourists than in the past, but it is still less visited than many other Italian spots.

It takes around ten hours to drive from the very north of Puglia to the very south. This isn’t a day trip location. But it is a stunning area with a rich cultural history and plenty of opportunities to sample classic Italian food.

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.

Pane di Altamura

As you may have guessed, bread is very popular and there are several different types available in Puglia. One that you must try is the Pane di Altamura. It was originally made in the inland town situated close to Bari, although there are several locations which make it today.

To enjoy the authentic experience and perhaps the best taste in Italy, try the Pane di Altamura from Monte Sant’Angelo. This town is in the northern part of Puglia near the Adriatic Sea. This bread has Traditional Agricultural Product status (PAT), making it as close to the original product as possible.

Focaccia

Pizza is often regarded as one of the most traditional Italian dishes. However, it’s not the only one. If you’re in Puglia you need to sample the local focaccia, it’s unique and you won’t be able to get enough of it.  Genuine Puglia focaccia is a round dough, crispy on the outside and soft inside. Traditionally, there are cherry tomatoes inside. However, you’ll find a host of fillings, all of which are worth trying. The pucce, mentioned above, is a local variant worth trying when in the Salento region. 

Caciocavallo

Caciocavallo is a type of Italian cheese. It has a famously lightly salted flavour and a unique shape. It resembles a pear. Be warned, the saltiness of the flavour increases dramatically with ageing. It originates in the Gargano peninsula, which is just east of Naples. There is also a specialist version of this cheese. It’s known as Caciocavallo Podolico and is made using milk from Podolic cows. There are very few of these cows left and their survival is at risk. Caciocavallo made with milk from Podolic cows is particularly intense in flavour.

Burrata

You’ll find burrata on menus across the globe. However, if you want the original, and probably the best, flavour, you’ll need to visit Puglia. Here, the filling of the burrata is stracciatella cheese. The exterior is mozzarella and can be eaten by itself or as part of a meal. It’s creamy and will delight your taste buds. 

Panzerotti

Panzerotti is a type of dough. In the Puglia region, the dough is used to create pockets. They are filled with tomato and mozzarella and then deep-fried. While there are other variants available, to experience the original Puglia experience you’ll want either tomato and mozzarella or prosciutto and mozzarella.  The taste is divine, but the mozzarella will leak out as soon as you bite into it. That means you need to be careful not to burn your fingers or stain your clothes. It is possible to oven-bake Panzerotti. However, if you want the genuine experience it’s a good idea to stick to deep-fried.

What Is The Food Capital Of Puglia?

Puglia is considered a fertile region of Italy and a firm favourite with foodies across the globe. The food capital of this region is Bari. It's not just full of traditional Puglia cuisine for you to try, it’s also the second most important economic centre of southern Italy after Naples! Of course, the foods you find here can be sampled across the Puglia region. However, you won’t find any other region with as many grandmas! It’s these grandmas that offer the traditional, rustic, and hearty food that this region is known for. 

 There are so many options available you probably won’t have time to try them all!

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?