The food dictionary

Products · Spilinga, Vibo Valentia

’Nduja

A soft, very spicy salami that you spread.

Products · Ionian coast of Reggio

Bergamot of Reggio Calabria DOP

The citrus fruit that scents half the world and grows almost only here.

Products · Sila plateau

Caciocavallo silano DOP

The pear-shaped cheese hung up in pairs.

Products · Riviera dei Cedri, Cosenza

Citron of Santa Maria del Cedro DOP

The large, fragrant citrus fruit that gives a coast its name.

Products · Tyrrhenian coast, Tropea area

Red onion of Tropea IGP

Sweet enough to eat raw.

Drinks · Cirò, Crotone

Cirò

Calabria’s best-known wine, from the hills above the Ionian Sea.

Products · Plains of Sibari, Lamezia and Gioia Tauro

Clementines of Calabria IGP

Small, sweet and seedless: the citrus fruit of winter.

Sweets · The whole region

Cuzzupa

Cuzzupa, cuddura

The Easter cake with whole eggs woven into the dough.

Products · Crati valley, Cosenza

Figs of Cosenza DOP

Crocette

Sun-dried Dottato figs, the sweetness of the holidays.

Dishes · Vibo Valentia area

Fileja

I filej

Fresh pasta rolled by hand around a thin rod.

Drinks · The whole region

Coffee soda

A fizzy coffee drink you find almost only here.

Drinks · Bianco, Reggio Calabria

Greco di Bianco

An amber-coloured sweet wine from the Jasmine Coast.

Dishes · Cosenza area and the Pollino

Lagane e ceci

Lagani e ciciari

Wide egg-free ribbons of pasta, with chickpeas.

Products · Ionian coast of Cosenza

Liquorice of Calabria DOP

The root that grows wild here, black and bittersweet.

Dishes · Catanzaro

Morzello

’U morzeddhu

The spicy stew that is a breakfast in Catanzaro.

Sweets · Soriano Calabro, Vibo Valentia

Mostaccioli di Soriano

Mastazzola

Honey and flour biscuits shaped like hearts, fish and horses.

Dishes · Cosenza

Pasta e patate ara tijeddra

Ara tijeddra

Pasta and potatoes baked together in the pan.

Products · Marchesato, Crotone

Pecorino crotonese DOP

The sheep’s cheese of the Marchesato, its rind marked by the basket.

Dishes · Scilla and Bagnara, Reggio Calabria

Swordfish “alla ghiotta”

The fish of the Strait, stewed with tomato, capers and olives.

Dishes · The whole region

Pipi e patati

Pipi e patati

Peppers and potatoes fried together: summer on a plate.

Sweets · San Giovanni in Fiore, Cosenza

Pitta ’mpigliata

Pastry roses with walnuts, raisins and honey.

Products · Crucoli and the Ionian coast

Sardella

A rosamarina

They call it the poor man’s caviar: tiny fish and chilli.

Products · The whole region

Soppressata di Calabria DOP

The pressed Calabrian salami, mild or spicy.

Dishes · Mammola, Reggio Calabria

Stocco alla mammolese

’U stoccu

Stockfish stewed with potatoes, olives and chilli.

Dishes · Gioia Tauro plain

Struncatura

A dark, rough pasta born from mill leftovers.

Sweets · Pizzo, Vibo Valentia

Tartufo di Pizzo IGP

Hazelnut ice cream with a heart of melted chocolate.

Sweets · Bagnara Calabra, Reggio Calabria

Torrone di Bagnara IGP

Toasted almonds, honey and sugar, cooked until dark.