Sicilian Christmas food
Last updated on December 18th, 2025.
This guide brings together 3 of my favorite things: Sicily, Italian food and Christmas.
Like many cities, towns and villages across Italy, Sicilians go big at Christmastime.
Plenty of dazzling lights, religious traditions and gatherings with the family, it’s a heart-warming time of the year.
However, one of the biggest and best highlights of the season has to be the Sicilian Christmas food.
As someone who lives in Sicily part of the year, it’s known for being one of the best food regions in Italy.
Its Mediterranean and Arabic culinary influences give Sicilian food a delicious and distinctive twist.
The perfect excuse to plan your trip to Italy here are 5 traditional Christmas dishes to enjoy a truly Sicilian Christmas.
Sicilian Christmas food: 5 most festive dishes
1. Sicilian timbales (timballini Siciliani)
In a land where pasta is king for pretty much the whole year, Christmas is no exception. A Sicilian timbale is a baked pasta dish, which takes its name after the round tin that it’s cooked in.
Varieties are aplenty, with some timbales also suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Probably the most popular, and easiest to make, is the timballo di anelletti al ragu.
Different versions
Anelletti are small circular-shaped pasta hoops. Different recipes will list different ingredients, but the principle ones tend to be anelletti pasta, pork or beef, and cheese.
Meat-free timbales include timballo di riso or timballini di pasta ai peperoni. Be sure to ask beforehand whether there’s any meat before ordering. Some dishes that appear to be vegetarian may not be.
How to make mini Sicilian timbales
Ingredients (serves 4 to 6 people)
For the pasta base
- 250g (about 9oz) short pasta (like anelletti, rigatoni or penne)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
For the sauce filling
- 200g (7oz) ground beef or pork/beef mix
- ½ small onion, finely chopped
- 200g (7oz) tomato passata or sauce
- 100g (3.5oz) peas (fresh or frozen)
- 100g (3.5oz) mozzarella or caciocavallo, diced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil for cooking
For assembling
- Breadcrumbs, for coating molds
- A little butter for greasing
Instructions
Make the meat sauce
- In a pan, sauté the chopped onion in olive oil until soft.
- Add the ground meat and cook until browned.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, peas, salt and pepper.
- Simmer gently for 20 to 25 minutes. Set aside.
Cook the pasta
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente.
- Drain and mix with olive oil, grated cheese and the beaten egg.
- This helps the pasta hold together when baked.
Prepare the molds
- Grease small ramekins or muffin tins with butter.
- Coat the inside with breadcrumbs.
Assemble the timballini
- Line the molds with a layer of pasta, pressing gently.
- Spoon some meat sauce and diced mozzarella into the center.
- Cover with more pasta to seal.
Bake
- Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 25 to 30 minutes, until golden on top.
Serve
- Let them cool for a few minutes, then carefully unmold.
- Serve warm with a sprinkle of grated cheese on top.
Optional variations
- Add boiled egg slices or fried eggplant inside for a richer, Palermo-style version.
- Use a large mold instead of small ones for a family-sized timballo.
2. Insalata di arance e finocchi
Enjoy the freshest produce of Sicily at Christmas with this tangy and aromatic orange and fennel salad.
The dish is a classic starter or side dish for Christmas in Sicily and is super simple to make. Slices of fresh Sicilian oranges are mixed with crunchy thin slices of fennel.
A generous, yet simple, dressing of olive oil, salt and pepper complement the dish. Ingredients can vary, but you can find some versions with crushed walnuts, pumpkin seeds or pine nuts.
How to make insalata di arance e finocchi
Ingredients (serves 2 to 3 people)
- 2 medium oranges
- 1 medium fennel bulb
- Extra virgin olive oil — about 2 to 3 tablespoons
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- (Optional) A few mint leaves or parsley for garnish
Instructions
Prepare the oranges
- Peel the oranges, removing all the white pith.
- Slice them into thin rounds or half-moons.
Prepare the fennel
- Remove the tough outer layer.
- Slice the bulb very thinly (use a mandoline if you have one).
Assemble the salad
- Arrange the orange slices and fennel on a plate.
- Drizzle generously with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Garnish and serve
- Add parsley or mint leaves (optional).
- Serve immediately or chill briefly before serving.
Map of Sicily
3. Crispelle con l’acciuga e la ricotta
Sicilian Christmas food gets no more sinful than Crispelle con l'acciuga e la ricotta. Also known as Crispedde di San Giuseppe in some parts of Sicily, these are Sicilian deep-fried fritters with a delicious filling.
Typically eaten as antipasti, they come in two varieties: either filled with anchovies or with ricotta.
You can also make a sweet version by omitting the salt and adding sugar to the batter. Replace the savory filling with sweetened ricotta and orange zest and finish off with a dusting of honey or sugar after frying.
A recipe that dates to ancient times, the technique involved in making crispelle is one that requires skill and practice. That said, if you do get a chance to try it, make sure to savor every single bite.
How to make Crispelle con l'acciuga e la ricotta
Ingredients (serves about 4 people)
For the batter
- 250g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 200 to 250ml (¾–1 cup) lukewarm water
- A pinch of salt
- (Optional) a pinch of sugar to help the yeast
For the filling (You can make half with anchovy and half with ricotta)
- Anchovy fillets (in oil), cut into small pieces
- Fresh ricotta (firm, well-drained)
For frying
- Vegetable oil (sunflower or olive oil, for frying)
Instructions
Make the batter
- In a bowl, dissolve yeast in a little lukewarm water.
- Add flour and salt, mixing gradually with the rest of the water until you get a smooth, thick batter (like pancake batter).
- Cover and let rise for about 1 hour, until doubled in volume and bubbly.
Prepare the fillings
- Drain the anchovies and cut into small pieces.
- If using ricotta, season it lightly with salt and pepper.
Form the crispelle
- Once the batter has risen, gently fold it to remove excess air.
- With a spoon, take a small portion of batter and place a bit of anchovy or ricotta inside. Seal it with a little more batter.
Fry
- Heat oil in a deep pan to about 170 to 180°C (340–355°F).
- Drop spoonfuls of batter (with filling inside) into the hot oil.
- Fry until golden and crisp on all sides.
- Drain on paper towels.
Serve
- Serve hot while still crispy.
4. Pasta ‘ncaciata (‘ncasciata)
No Sicilian Christmas table is complete without this classic first pasta course. Pasta ‘ncaciata may not be the easiest to pronounce but none of this will matter the second you take a bite.
Originating from the region of Messina, this baked pasta dish is packed with ragù, hard boiled eggs and plenty of cheese. Other additions can be added to the dish depending on where you are in Sicily.
In Catania, eggplant is added to the dish, while cauliflower is a popular ingredient in Agrigento. Rich, flavorsome and satisfyingly filling, pasta ‘ncaciata is the ideal Sicilian Christmas food dish.
How to make Pasta ‘ncaciata
Ingredients (serves 4 to 6 people)
- 400g (14oz) short pasta (like rigatoni, maccheroni or anelletti)
- 300g (10oz) ground beef (or beef and pork mix)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 400g (14oz) tomato passata (or crushed tomatoes)
- 100g (3.5oz) peas (fresh or frozen)
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
- 150g (5oz) mozzarella or caciocavallo, cubed
- 50g (½ cup) grated Parmigiano Reggiano (or Pecorino)
- Olive oil for cooking
- Salt and pepper
- (Optional) a few cubes of fried eggplant
Instructions
Make the sauce
- In a large pan, heat olive oil and sauté the onion until soft.
- Add the ground meat and cook until browned.
- Stir in the tomato passata, salt and pepper.
- Add the peas and simmer gently for about 20 to 25 minutes.
Cook the pasta
- Boil pasta in salted water until very al dente (it will cook more in the oven).
- Drain and toss with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking.
Combine everything
- In a large bowl, mix the pasta with most of the meat sauce, the diced mozzarella, grated cheese and slices of hard-boiled egg. Another option is to add fried eggplant pieces.
Assemble and bake
- Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish.
- Top with the remaining sauce and sprinkle with more grated cheese.
- Bake at 180°C (350°F) for about 25 to 30 minutes until golden and bubbling.
Serve
- Let the dish rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving, this will help hold it together.
- Enjoy warm, and add extra cheese if you wish.
5. Buccellati Siciliani
You instantly know that it’s Christmastime when you see buccellati Siciliani on the table.
Also known as ‘Cucciddati’ in the Sicilian dialect, these chewy cookies are a classic Sicilian dessert at Christmas. Made from shortcrust pastry, fillings typically include figs, dried fruit and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.
Shapes and sizes
There’s no one size fits all when it comes to cucciddati cookies. Shapes and sizes widely vary, from circular cookies with icing to an entire rotund buccellato.
Fillings can also change from region to region. While some opt for the classic fig or jam filling, you can also find cucciddati with almond or chocolate inside.
While we typically buy buccellati Siciliani (because you find them everywhere at Christmastime) you can make them at home.
Below is a simple recipe that you can make as treats for the family or give as small gifts for friends.
How to make buccellati Siciliani
Ingredients (makes about 20 to 25 cookies)
For the pastry (shortcrust)
- 400g (3 ¼ cups) all-purpose flour
- 120g (½ cup) sugar
- 120g (½ cup) butter (softened)
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- A splash of milk (if needed)
- Zest of 1 lemon or orange
- A pinch of salt
For the filling
- 250g (9 oz) dried figs
- 50g (¼ cup) raisins
- 50g (¼ cup) almonds or walnuts
- 50g (¼ cup) candied orange peel
- 2 tablespoon honey
- A little Marsala wine, orange juice or water to moisten
For decoration
- Colored sprinkles (traditional)
Instructions
Make the filling
- Soak the figs and raisins in warm water (or Marsala) for 10 to 15 minutes to soften.
- Drain, then chop finely or blend with nuts, candied peel and honey.
- Add a splash of liquid if it’s too thick: the mixture should be sticky but not runny.
- Leave it to cool completely.
Make the pastry dough
- Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
- Add butter and rub in with your fingers until crumbly.
- Add eggs and citrus zest, mix until a smooth dough forms.
- Wrap and rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Assemble the buccellati
- Roll out the dough to about 3mm (⅛ inch) thick.
- Cut into rectangles (about 10x5cm/4x2in).
- Place a line of fig filling down the center, fold over and seal edges.
- Form into small rings or crescents.
- Make little decorative cuts on top with a knife or fork.
Bake
- Place on a lined baking tray.
- Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 20 to 25 minutes until lightly golden.
Decorate
- Once cool, brush with honey and add colored sprinkles.
What are your thoughts on this post of Sicilian Christmas food? Would you like to try any of these festive Sicilian dishes? Let me know in the comments below.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I’ve recommended. Thank you for your support.
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These dishes look and sound absolutely delicious! Why wait for Christmas though? I would eat these at any time - especially thoseTimballini Siciliani ? Yum!
Good call Jane! I could also eat the timballini any time of year 😀
I am a foodie and I love Sicily... Sicilian food is really good and I really like food. Thank you for these recipes, I'm bookmarking it!
Perfect! I hope you enjoy them 🙂
wow, these are totally amazing. I will try this out next week.
Thank you, I hope you enjoy them!
Sicily is in my bucket list. We have traveled all over Italy but left out Sicily. Thanks for introducing the Christmas food in Sicily. They are all yummy looking! My choice would be Timballini Siciliani and Crispelle con l’acciuga e la ricotta!:-)
Great choices Jan, come and visit one day 🙂
Oh gosh everything looks so delicious but that salad needs to go in my mouth now!
Good choice Cindy, it's so good!
Those dishes look delicious and the Buccellati Siciliani and Pasta ‘ncaciata look like a real winners to me. For Christmas I love German Stollen and eggnog.
Why am I suddenly getting hungry?
Lol it happens in these food posts!
Oh wow, this all looks so delicious. To spend Christmas in Sicily must be amazing! Kaz
I assure you everything is! Experience it one day 🙂
I love this look at Sicilian Christmas food. I am drooling as I scroll. Hubby discovered his love for fennel when we were in Italy. So maybe I will try to make that orange and fennel salad. But since he hates hard boiled eggs, there is one dish I won’t be trying!
Lol I know which one! Definitely give the salad a try, it's really delicious 🙂
Hmm, I guess this is my first time to learn about such! I need to share this to my sister and see if we could add some of for our Holiday menu.
Perfect! I hope you enjoy these dishes 🙂
I so want a Sicilian Christmas feast now ?. Actually, I want one now (is 1 am too late / too early to whip up one of these dishes? ? Pinning for future reference.
Lol it's never too late or early in my opinion Karen! I hope you get to try one of these dishes one day 🙂
I really love the sound of Insalata di arance e finocchi. I think it would be perfect in Australia for Christmas Day as it is so hot here and this seems refreshing.
Exactly Wendy! It's a light and fresh dish and would be a great starter
Everything looks deliciously good. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you!
These Christmas foods sounds so delicious. Some I have never heard of!
Thank you! It's the Sicilian way
These look so yummy! Thank you so much for sharing!
You're welcome!
After reading your blog, I am excited to be one of your guests for Christmas dinner! These foods are to die for!
Aw, you would be very welcome!
They all look so good. But, my favorite is ricotta. Yum!
That's a great choice 🙂
We loved the food in Sicily! Reading this makes me hungry!
We eat very well here!
Everything sounds delicious and very different from the heavy Christmas dishes I am used to. I never would have thought to combine oranges with fennel, but it sounds pretty good. Pinned!
Aw thanks Anda! It's a delicious salad and so light too
These foods look yummy and make me hungry!
Yes!
My mother was Sicilian so I grew up with a lot of these dishes. I love fennel and orange salad...it's so refreshing and delicious. Beautiful recipes and memories.
Yay! It's such a classic and a must-have starter!
The Pasta ‘ncaciata looks so good, I must make it at some point. It looks like the ultimate comfort food, packing so much flavour inside.
Yes! And there are so many different varieties to try too 🙂
I have never seen or heard of Pasta ‘ncaciata before. That sounds like a yummy dish. I would really enjoy it I'm sure.
You really would! It's an amazing pasta dish
Everything on this list looks so good. I think it's safe to say that you are eating much better food than I am right now 🙂
Thank you Steven! I'm sure you'll be eating something nice this Christmas too 🙂
Those are really interesting food. I'd love to try the ricotta fritters though.
They're really good, you must try them!
Really interesting to see how Sicily does Christmas. It's a region so well known for its food but I never think of a Sicilian Christmas! Some of it looks delicious, I'm glad I'd eaten before reading haha
Lol I should have put a warning Jason! Yes, Sicilians go big for Christmas!
These are all wonderful and delicious looking treats. I especially love those cookies and would love to learn to make those for my husband as he is half Sicilian and loves Italian food 🙂
Amazing! I'm sure he will recognize a few dishes here
I am actually wondering why I haven't Sicilly yet. So many delicious dishes so little time. I will be adding Sicilly to my bucket list.
Perfect! I hope you get to visit soon
I wouldn't mind my summer diet if these foods will be on my table for Christmas. They all look delicious!
Haha yes! They're such delicious dishes
Wow! I know a lot of things about Christmas relate to food. Sicilian cuisine is interesting and would like to try it. Especially that baked mac with veggies!
The timballo is very good!
I want to cook and try literally each dish! looks pretty awesome!
Yes! They are, you should try 🙂
That's so wonderful that each country has its own food for Christmas. These dishes are not similar to the ones we have in Poland. 🙂
I agree, I'd like to know what they eat in Poland for Christmas
Oh my! Thank you for sharing these mouth-watering Siciliani christmas dishes! Perfect for a feast.
Glad you enjoyed it! It's really a Sicilian feast 😀
I love pasta any time of the year. Everything looks and sounds amazing.
Me too! And these dishes are really good
Oh my, they all look absolutely mouth-watering. Since I am a pasta fan I would definitely try the two pasta dishes but also the Crispelle looks amazing!
The crispelle is amazing! And a little different for Christmas too 🙂
YUM! I need to try every single one of these. They all sound delicious.
Sicilian food in general is really good. I'm certain you'll love these!
Great recipes. The pics are yum and sounds so delicious. Will try couple of them, thanks for the share
Thank you for reading!
Okay, well, your photos have made me hungry. Everything looks delish. I just love Italian food.
Lol sorry about that! Trust me, everything is really delicious 😀
These all sound delicious! I’ll need to look up recipes for them.
Yes! The pasta 'Ncaciata is not too difficult to make 🙂
Well, now here's something i didnt know about sicilian food. Such a lovely post. But my fav Christmas treats have to be the yummy desertss??
Merry christmas you!
Thank you! And to you too 🙂 I also like the desserts!
I love pasta and would be more than happy to have these for my Christmas lunch. My son would love those cookies
It's such a tasty dish and so filling too 😀
Italy is one of my favorite countries, yet I need to visit Sicily, but the food looks fantastic.
You must come and visit one day!
The lights and Sicilian sweets are among the things that most excite me about Christmas in southern Italy ... those almond paste sweets covered with icing ... I love them!
The cuccidati cookies are so delicious, I can eat more than one!