Sicilian cuisine

Peyrol · 02-02-2013, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by CircassianWine

Clearly influenced by Arab and North African elements.

Probable.

**Azalea** · 02-02-2013, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by Mistel

Really? How did they turn out?

Yeah check out the pictures.

They tasted good but I will season them more the next time. Adding a few more spices and all.

**Mistel** · 02-02-2013, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by Ashina

Yeah check out the pictures.

They tasted good but I will season them more the next time. Adding a few more spices and all.

Wow! They look great! I have never tried making them, but you can buy them quite easily where I live.

**~~Sikeliot~~** · 02-02-2013, 04:17 PM

What is more influenced by North Africa is the style of Sicilian kitchens, the types of plates you often see etc.

**Azalea** · 02-02-2013, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by Mistel

Wow! They look great! I have never tried making them, but you can buy them quite easily where I live.

Thank you! And here they are not easy to get. You know I was actually wondering what they would taste like since forever.

An old classmate of mine (Sicilian) keeps posting them on facebook whenever she has them.. but I never tried it... after lurking in this thread that is.

They are quite easy to make I must say.

Peyrol · 02-02-2013, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Sikeliot

What is more influenced by North Africa is the style of Sicilian kitchens, the types of plates you often see etc.

I don't think so...sweets are probably a arab heritage...the marzapane (almond paste)...where in other parts of Europe you can find the marzapane?

**~~Sikeliot~~** · 02-02-2013, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Peyrol

I don't think so...sweets are probably a arab heritage...the marzapane (almond paste)...where in other parts of Europe you can find the marzapane?

That is probably true. Also the name of it, "Cassata", resembles other words in Sicilian of Arabic origin so it is likely.

**Annihilus** · 02-02-2013, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by alfieb

I think you're overestimating the Berber influence in Sicily. Half of my family are from the "Arab coast" of Sicily and McDonald found no SSA admix in me. Dienekes found only an amount small enough to have been noise.

If I am not mistaken your ancestry composition shows 0.6% SSA

Peyrol · 02-02-2013, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by Sikeliot

That is probably true. Also the name of it, "Cassata", resembles other words in Sicilian of Arabic origin so it is likely.

Yup, from the word ''qas'at'' (pot).

**Sunphq** · 02-02-2013, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by Peyrol

Yup, from the word ''qas'at'' (pot).

Myth.

The Sicilian word cassata did not derive from Arabic qashatah ("bowl"), as is often claimed, but from caseata ("cheese concoction"), according to John Dickie,[1] who observes that cassata did not even signify a dessert until the late 17th century and did not take on anything like its current striped green-and-white form until the 18th century. "Cassata" he finds, "is the subject of an invented tradition based on the claim that its roots lie in the Muslim Middle Ages.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassata

But yes, a lot of Sicilian cuisine is borrowed from North African cuisine. I know that my grandmother made a lot of North African-inspired dishes.