I Love Italian Regional Cooking - Pairing Sicily Cuisine With Red Wine
Great Sicilian food, fine Sicilian or other red wine...Can you believe that an independent Sicily would rank seventh in the world for wine production? Again and again I had to strike suggested wines off the list because they aren’t available in North America, at least not yet. So maybe you should plan a trip to this lovely, distinctive island and get local treats that just don’t make it to North America such as Sicilian ices made from the snows of Mount Etna. Sicilian wine is meant for food. I remember bringing a $40 bottle to my wine class. Nobody, including me, was impressed. They didn’t even finish the bottle, leaving me a single serving. I paired it with brought home just enough for one meal, slow-cooked beef ribs. How do you say ooh-la-la in Italian?
Do you recognize Mt. Etna in the background?
What are some Sicily food specialties that go with red wine? Before we answer, a word or two of warning. You can get the recipes from an Italian cookbook or the Internet, either from the Italian or the English-language name. You may have to make some substitutions. We only recommend wines that are fairly available in many parts of North America. When you’re in Sicily, make sure to try the local specialties with relatively unknown wines.
Caponata Siciliana (Eggplant and Tomato Stew) is a great appetizer or side dish. My local supermarket sells a passable version, but obviously homemade is the best. I haven’t tried the sweet and sour version that often includes raisins. That’s not my way of consuming grapes. The wines that are recommended for caponata are rarely available here, but one matches I liked was with the Novio Mezzacorona produced from Teroldego and Lagrein grapes native to the Trentino-Alto Adige region in northeastern Italy. It’s a new wine, similar to the French Beaujolais Nouveau and is available for a few weeks after mid-November. Don’t make a special purchase, after all we’re not talking about a main dish.
Falsomagro ( Stuffed Beef Roll) is made from ground beef, steak, and several cuts of pork including Italian ham and Italian bacon. You may find it hard to get the ingredients as is the case for many recommended wines. You should be able to find a Valtellina Superiore DOCG which comes from Lombardy.
My mouth is watering for such a great Sicilian dish.
Bollito Misto ( Mixed Boiled Meats) is popular in many parts of Italy including Sicily. Every traditional cook and chef has his or her own recipe. This is one case where we can say the more the merrier. One of the many suggested sauces is mostarda di frutta (preserved spiced fruit), and the leftovers are delicious. Among the wine pairings are Barbera D’Alba (Piedmont) and Rosso Piceno (The Marches).
Like in so many parts of Italy and frankly just about everywhere else, spaghetti and pizza are popular. Among the many local versions alla Norma (tomato, fried eggplant, ricotta cheese, and basil) is a real favorite. Variations abound, for example, the ricotta may be raw or baked. Serve them with a Chianti Classico from Tuscany or with a wine based on what is becoming Sicily’s signature grape, Nero d’Avola.
About the Author
Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian, French, or other wine, accompanied by the right foods and spend time with his wife and family. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Check out his global wine website at www.theworldwidewine.com with his weekly column reviewing $10 wines and his new sections writing about (theory) and tasting (practice) organic and kosher wines. Check out his Italian wine website at www.theitalianwineconnection.com.
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