The Puglia Food You Need To Try in 2023

A trip to Puglia always has these three staples; magical landscapes, olive trees, and incredible food. Puglia food is some of the very best in Italy and a completely distinct cuisine in its own right. From durum wheat ear-shaped pasta, and oozy creamy burrata to the freshest raw squid you’ve ever eaten and piping hot pastry dripping with mozzarella cheese, food is seriously next level here. Curious to discover what Pugliese food is all about? Keep reading to learn about my top 12 must-try Puglia foods for your trip in 2023.

What is Pugliese food?

If you love food, then chances are you’re going to fall in love with Apuglia. Olive oil reigns supreme in the culinary traditions of this land as the producers of more than 40% of the country’s total olive oil production. The typical Puglia food is based on cucina povera as it was historically one of the poorer regions in Italy which meant that the people relied on fresh, local ingredients that were easily sourced. As a result, many of the typical dishes are vegetable based or orientated around fish depending on the town and its proximity to the sea.

With incredible ingredients available including grano arso (a flour made from burnt wheat with a nutty flavour), chickpeas, unique vegetables such as cime di rapa (broccoli rabe), lampascione (bitter bulb), and barratiere (round cucumber), olives, cheeses, and fresh seafood, the resulting cuisine is utterly delicious.

What is the most famous food in Puglia?

Perhaps the most well-known food of the region are its ear shaped orecchiette pasta which can be found in most countries around the world. Or perhaps, its famous cheeses including mozzarella and burrata! However, besides those popular foods, the cuisine is still relatively unknown outside of Italy. When you travel to Puglia, look out for tasty street food like fried polenta (called sgagliozze), pizzette, and puccia (pita pockets). You’ll also want to try the incredibly addictive taralli biscuits, friselle topped with fresh tomatoes and olive oil in the summer time, and indulge in the best bread in Italy from Altamura.

The 12 Best Puglia Dishes to Taste in 2023

1. Orecchiette

The typical ear-shaped pasta of the region, orecchiette is made simply with durum wheat and water. No eggs in sight here! Bari is the best place to watch how this is made in action – there’s a whole street of women who roll out the shapes in record lightning speed. Depending on the time of year you visit, you will find different matching sauces. My favourite is the cime di rapa pairing or ‘broccoli sprouts’ but keep in mind that this is only in season between October-November and April-May. In high summer, I love a crispy guanciale and mint pairing (the use of mint in the cuisine is fantastic!). When in doubt, a classic tomato sugo is always a delicious meal.

2. Focaccia Barese

You’ve never had focaccia quite like the one in Bari! It’s fluffy and crispy at the same time thanks to the dough made with potatoes. Traditionally, you’ll find the classic Barese focaccia stuffed with tomatoes and olives. It makes a perfect breakfast or mid-morning snack when it comes piping out of the local forno or bakery. Try it at Panificio Fiore in Bari for an unforgettable version!

3. Caffe Lecesse

This will become your summertime obsession – it’s the perfect balance of caffeine and energetic sugar! Essentially it’s a shot of espresso poured over ice blocks and topped with a little bit of almond milk/syrup. The trick is not to mix it! This isn’t the same kind of almond milk you’re thinking of though, it’s really more of a syrup. The Fabbri Almond Milk gives you a good idea of what’s used here.

4. Pasticiotto

Do as the Pugliese do and ditch the cornetti for breakfast! Here it’s all about the tasty pasticiotto – it’s a sweet pastry case filled with custard and jam traditionally. Nowadays, you can also find it filled with my personal favourite; pistacchio paste.

5. Fava e cicoria

This dish is typical of ‘cucina povera’ in Puglia and easily demonstrates how simple, cheap ingredients can be made to taste delicious. It uses dried fava beans and wild chicory that when combined are really flavoursome. The fava beans (fava) are soaked overnight before simmering away in water for a few hours. Once cooked they’re blended with oil, garlic/onion, and salt into a creamy puree. The chicory or bitter greens, are boiled in salted water and served atop the puree. A healthy vegetarian/vegan friendly dish!

6. Raw squid

If you like seafood, then you’re going to be in food heaven in Puglia! The Barese in particular have a tradition of eating raw seafood like sea urchins, oysters, mussels, prawns, and interestingly also raw squid. The best place to try this is on the old fisherman’s port in Bari first thing in the morning. There, you’ll find a few fisherman set up with their catches from the evening prior and pounding octopus against the cement in order to tenderise it. The squid is cut into fine strips and utterly delicious with a squeeze of lemon.

7. Rustico

The typical pastry you’ll find in Lecce, this is a buttery flavourbomb. Shaped like a spiral, it’s filled with mozzarella cheese, tomato sugo, and bechamel and totally delicious. Try it at Caffe Alvino in the main piazza in Lecce for my favourite version!

8. Bombette

For those who aren’t crazy about seafood, this is for you! There are plenty of tasty meat based dishes to try in Puglia like these bombette typical of the Valle d’Itria area. These tasty little skewers are full of fresh pork meat traditionally stuffed with cheese, salt and pepper and then cooked on the grill or in a pan.

9. Cheese

If you love soft cheeses, then you are going to adore the food here! A must-do for your trip is to visit a caseficio or dairy to try the freshest formaggio of your life. The traditional soft cheeses in the region include burrata (made with cream and cow’s milk), straciatella (the creamy filling of the burrata), and of course classic mozzarella. If you like slightly harder cheeses, you’re in luck too. Give the cacioricotta, caciocavallo, Pallone di Gravina, and Canestrato a try!

10. Capocollo from Martina Franca

One of the tastiest cured meats in all of Italy is Martina Franca’s famous capocollo. This Slow Food Presidium product has been produced in the area since at least the 18th century. It’s made using pork neck and cooked in wine.

11. Tiella

This classic Pugliese dish is also commonly called riso, patate e cozze meaning rice, potatoes, and mussels. It’s topped with breadcrumbs and cooked in the oven so it gets a golden crust. There are many similarities between this dish and paella thanks to the Spanish influence here during the 16th century.

12. Spaghetti all’Assassina

Last but not least, this is a dish you have to try on a trip to Bari! It sounds a little crazy, but it’s devilishly delicious. This pasta dish is a little bit burnt and a little bit spicy and full of umami goodness. Essentially, it’s Spaghetti cooked raw directly in a pan with a little tomato sauce and broth. As the pasta cooks, it begins to stick to the bottom of the pan which gives you those lovely crunchy, burnt pieces that taste so good. The best place to try this is where it was created at Al Sorso Preferito.

Looking for more information on Puglia? Take a read of my blog post on the best places to visit in Puglia, where to stay in Puglia, the best things to do in Puglia, my guide to the Itria Valley, the Puglia travel guide on Untold Italy or discover why Puglia is the perfect beach destination on CNN.