Taste the Authentic Flavours of Puglia
With its sun-kissed climate, fertile soil, and centuries-old culinary traditions, Puglia is a paradise for food lovers. The region’s cuisine celebrates simplicity — fresh vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, local cheeses, seafood, and wines that express the character of the land.
Whether you’re dining by the sea or in a whitewashed hilltop town, every meal in Puglia tells a story of authenticity and joy.
Here are 10 traditional Apulian dishes you absolutely must try on your journey through Italy’s southern gem.
1. Focaccia Barese – The Queen of Puglian Street Food
Golden, soft, and aromatic, Focaccia Barese is the snack that defines Puglia. Traditionally topped with cherry tomatoes, olives, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, it’s sold in bakeries from Bari to Lecce.
You’ll also find delicious local variations — with onions, aubergines, cheese, or even sausage — but the classic tomato and olive version remains unbeatable.
Perfect for: a seaside picnic or an afternoon aperitivo with local rosé wine.
2. Friselle – The Taste of Summer
Crisp, toasted rounds of durum wheat bread, Friselle are soaked briefly in water and topped with fresh tomatoes, garlic, salt, and olive oil.
Once a humble sailor’s meal, today they are a staple of Apulian summers — simple, refreshing, and full of Mediterranean flavour.
3. Panzerotti – Fried Pockets of Happiness
Few things in life rival the joy of biting into a freshly fried Panzerotto — crispy on the outside, oozing with melted mozzarella and tomato inside.
These half-moon pastries are a beloved comfort food, best enjoyed hot from the fryer. While baked versions exist, locals will tell you only fried Panzerotti deserve the name.
Insider tip: try them from Bari’s old-town bakeries or at a “Panzerotteria” in Polignano a Mare.
4. Orecchiette con le Cime di Rapa – Puglia’s Signature Dish
The name Orecchiette means “little ears,” a reference to the pasta’s shape. Handmade by skilled nonnas, these tiny disks are typically served with turnip tops (cime di rapa), garlic, anchovies, and chili.
This dish perfectly captures Puglia’s philosophy — simple ingredients, bold flavours, and deep connection to the land.
Out of season? Locals often freeze cime di rapa so they can enjoy this dish year-round.
5. Riso, Patate e Cozze – A Marriage of Land and Sea
This baked casserole of rice, potatoes, and mussels is a hallmark of Bari’s cuisine. Layered with onions, tomatoes, and breadcrumbs, it combines the richness of the sea with the warmth of home cooking.
Served hot or cold, it’s comfort food with a Mediterranean twist.
6. Linguine ai Ricci di Mare – Sea Urchin Pasta
For seafood lovers, Linguine ai Ricci (sea urchin pasta) is a culinary revelation. Simple and elegant, it features just four ingredients: linguine, garlic, parsley, and the sweet, briny roe of fresh sea urchins.
Best enjoyed in a seaside restaurant with a view of the Adriatic — the taste of Puglia in its purest form.
7. Bombette – Grilled Meat Rolls from Valle d’Itria
Follow the smoky aroma through the narrow alleys of Cisternino or Martina Franca and you’ll find butcher shops that transform into grill restaurants (fornelli pronti) after dark.
Their specialty? Bombette — small veal rolls stuffed with cheese, herbs, and spices. Each butcher has a secret recipe, and every bite bursts with flavour.
8. Fave e Cicorie – The Heart of Apulian Home Cooking
This humble yet iconic dish combines pureed broad beans (fave) with wild chicory (cicorie). The creamy beans and slightly bitter greens create a balance of flavours that’s deeply satisfying.
A symbol of Puglia’s rural roots, it’s often drizzled with local olive oil and served with toasted bread.
9. Pasticciotto – The Sweet Soul of Salento
Originating in Lecce, the Pasticciotto is a warm, buttery tart filled with vanilla custard and topped with a single black cherry.
Perfect with an espresso in the morning or after dinner, it’s Puglia’s most famous dessert.
Modern pastry shops now offer creative twists — from pistachio to chocolate or lemon cream — but the classic version remains timeless.
10. Cartellate – A Sweet Spiral of Tradition
A festive favourite from the Gargano area, Cartellate are delicate spirals of fried dough drizzled with honey or vincotto (cooked grape must).
Crunchy, fragrant, and beautifully shaped like roses, they’re traditionally prepared at Christmas — but you’ll find them in pastry shops all year round.
They make for a perfect gourmet souvenir to take home from your Puglia holiday.
