10 TYPICAL DISHES TO EAT ON THE AMALFI COAST AND WHERE TO DO IT
The Amalfi Coast is as beautiful to visit as its dishes are good to eat. Its gastronomic tradition has been handed down from generation to generation, and even today it does not stop surprising us with its amazing recipes.
by Barbara Iovine
Those with a sweet tooth will agree with me in saying that there are some dishes you just can't help but taste during your stay on the Amalfi Coast. This land is full of genuine and tasty dishes that have much more pairings of food than just the citrus flavors, despite what the collective imagination could think.
Treat yourself to a gastronomic tour, discovering them all. Enjoy as many recipes as possible, from appetizers to desserts, living this sensory experience that involves smell, taste, and sight. I assure you that you will carry these "new" flavors in your heart for a lifetime.
Here are the 10 dishes you absolutely can not miss during your trip to the Amalfi Coast and where to have them!
share this article
Caprese salad
1. Cheeses, ricotta, and mozzarella
Let's start from Agerola, a small village in the Lattari Mountains that looks like a panoramic balcony to the Amalfi Coast. Stop in one of the many farmhouses with a view of the area and treat yourself to a tasting: the provola affummicata (smoked provola) is particularly good, but you also should try the fior di latte (a mozzarella type), the main ingredient, together with the local tomato, of the Caprese salad and the cheeses, among which the delicious Provolone del Monaco stands out. All authentic flavors that you will not find elsewhere.
2. Anchovies of Cetara
In the small village of Cetara you should absolutely try the anchovies: fried, marinated, or in oil. They are irresistible anyway and also an excellent appetizer! After they have been fished, usually in spring, the anchovies are salted and pressed. The fish thus treated release a liquid which, after being exposed to the sun, is bottled and used as a seasoning: the famous colatura. Do not miss a plate of spaghetti or linguine with this sauce: it has a strong but balanced taste, the one that the Japanese call umami. I assure you that you will not regret it!
3. Scialatielli all'Amalfitana
The Scialatielli is a typical Amalfi Coast type of fresh pasta that has an irregular shape. I recommend you to taste it in Amalfi, where they were born at the hands of chef Cosentino.
Compared to other types of fresh pasta, they are made with water and flour and fewer eggs in the dough.
Although they go well with many sauces, it is with seafood that the Scialatielli are truly irresistible: you will definitely want a second helping!
4. Tramonti’s Pizza
Thinking about Campania food, you can't help but think of pizza. What not many people know is that a traditional version of it has its roots on the Amalfi Coast, more precisely in Tramonti. It is a mixture of wholemeal flour with an addition of fennel, while the topping is made up of selected products: Corbarino tomato, Colline Salernitane DOP oil, and the delicious Fior di Latte mozzarella from Monti Lattari.
There is nothing more to say, taste it and let yourself be seduced by the tastiness!
5. Tagliolini with lemon
In Positano order a plate of Tagliolini (a type of pasta) with lemon and savor it with the beautiful sea in the background: this is the true essence of the Amalfi Coast. Tagliolini with lemon is a really fresh dish that combines two of the typical products par excellence: fresh pasta and lemons. The sauce with citrus used for the dressing is so simple and good that it amazes, with its sour touch it gives life to a truly unique flavor: it tastes like summer and holidays. Simple and perfect.
6. Ndunderi
7. Squid and potatoes praianese
In Praiano order a big plate of Squid and potatoes praianese: a specialty of the local seafaring tradition. On this occasion, don’t eat too much pasta because this is a really hearty second course! The squid blends perfectly with its side dish, the potatoes, creating an irresistible and truly exquisite union. Also, treat yourself to a nice glass of white wine… you will fall in love with the combo!
8. Mixed fried seafood
If you are a seafood dishes lover, you cannot fail to appreciate the mixed fried fish: a fresh Paranza (fried fish) is very popular on all menus of coastal restaurants. There is no specific city where you should taste it: you can have it takeaway in a paper cone, the so-called "cuoppo", while wandering through the Amalfi alleys, or you can stop at one of the sea view restaurants in Maiori, Positano, or Salerno. The mixed fried seafood is a super classic on the Amalfi Coast, and it will certainly not disappoint you in any coastal village you decide to eat.
9. Delizia al limone
It is impossible not to include desserts in this gastronomic guide: go to Minori at Sal De Riso pastry shop and order the best Delizia al limone (Lemon Delight) of your life.
This is a single-serving dessert that looks like a sphere. It is made up of a sponge cake filled with lemon cream, also used for the topping, and it is the perfect choice to end a fish-based meal. Order also a glass of the typical liquor limoncello: the matching will be divine!
10. Sfogliatella
Now is the turn of the Sfogliatella Santa Rosa, another Campania dessert par excellence that you can taste in Conca dei Marini. It has a shell shape and a golden color that will immediately conquer you! It has a perfect combination of crunchiness and goodness: bite after bite you will feel the crunchiness of the pastry, immediately followed by the explosion of taste of the custard and black cherry filling. Suitable for both breakfast and snacks, you will never be able to do without it!
- Once, the anchovies colatura was "exported" by emigrants, which put this amber nectar into some recycled bottles. Today it is exported all over the world.
- The Scialatielli have a basil mince in the dough that makes them really special.
- 'Ndunderi is considered by Unesco to be one of the oldest pasta in the world and dates back to the time of the ancient Romans.
- Squid with potatoes was once a poor dish that was cooked in fishermen's houses.
fun facts
share this article
latest articles
The "Fiera del Crocifisso Ritrovato" in Salerno
April is the month of the Fiera del Crocifisso Ritrovato (literally the Fair of the Retrieved Crucifix), an event that has very deep roots in Salerno's history. Find out about its origins and what's on the agenda for the XXXII edition!
The must-do experiences on the Amalfi Coast
The latest trend in tourism are the so-called "experiences," which allow everyone to participate in activities of many different types to enrich their vacation with unforgettable moments! You can do many of them on the Amalfi Coast too, read the article and discover them all!
The Palio of the Barrels
Now in its sixteenth edition, the Palio delle Botti (Palio of the Barrels) of the Wine Cities returns to Furore in 2024 as well! The appointment is set for April 6, don't miss it!
The best cooking classes of the Amalfi Coast
Are you a cooking enthusiast or simply looking for a fun activity to do in a group to liven up your stay on the Amalfi Coast? Then take part in a cooking class! Read on if you want to find out what it is and which one to choose!
