Italy and it’s food. Where should we start. As the list of mouth-watering Italian dishes is ginormous, this article zooms in on the food that you can find along the celebrated Amalfi Coast. We’re looking at regional specialities and Italian feast day dishes. 

So, whether you’ve already got your walking holiday in the Amalfi region arranged for, or needed that extra reason to visit, these are the items you need to order.

Amalfi Cheeses & Pasta

Some of the cheese to taste on your Amalfi Coast hiking holiday include Scamorza cheeses, plaits of mozzarella, Caciotta cheese, smoked Provola cheese, and ricotta. You may also like to try the local goats milk from Scala and Tramonti. The milk is made fragrant from the herbs of the Lattari Mountains. 

Often the cheeses are served with ubiquitous pasta, making dishes like Ndunderi (ricotta cheese gnocchi from Amalfi); Cavatiella pasta with capers, sea urchins poached in cheese and little balls of hen fat; Scialatiella with shell fish, Cannelloni and Laganelle with chick peas or mushrooms. 

More Amalfi Specialties

Coltura – order a spaghetti, vermicelli or linguine pasta that is served with Coltura, a liquid filtered from salted Anchovies. 

Amalfi lemons – the local lemons are widely used including the peel. There is Conca rabbit, browned with white wine cooked and cut open then wrapped in lemon leaves. 

Sponzino – is a rare species of little tomato, which is crushed onto bread with oil, and basil leaves or it is wrapped around soft Mozzarella cheese from Tramonti. 

A foodie’s haven, on our Amalfi Coast hiking holidays there are plenty of culinary delights on hand to keep everyone’s taste-buds happy. Think of Naples’ world famous pizza, the island of Capri’s signature dish of insalata caprese, and limoncello made from Sorrento’s juiciest lemons. Italians start the day with colazione of a quick expresso and a croissant, and typically have their main meal of the day at pranzo (lunch), followed in the evening by a lighter cena (meal). 

Fish on the Amalfi Coast

Fish figure prominently on the menus that you'll find when you're on your Amalfi Coast walking trip. You could try some of the below suggestions.

Spaghetti alle vongole – spaghetti pasta with clams

Insalata di polpo – octopus salad

Impepata di cozze – peppered mussels

Insalata di mare – seafood salad

Alici dorare e fritte – golden fried anchovies

Risotto alla pescatore – fisherman’s risotto

Zuppa di pesca – fish soup. 

Amalfi Sweets & Pastries

You will notice many sweets and pastries when you’re visiting the Amalfi Coast. Of famous Neapolitan pastieres and sfogliatelles (here's how to make your own sfogliatelle puff pastries) many were developed in the monasteries by nuns and monks who made them for religious fete days and celebrations. Later on, these foods were commissioned by the wealthier families. Cakes include “riccia” and “ frolla”, and the fragrant “pastiera,” “baba,” “roccoco,” “struffoli” and “cassata.”

What to Drink in Amalfi

Limoncello – this is the great local elixir with the same role here as say Pernod in Southern France. It is made from fresh lemon rinds. 

Nanassino – there is a local drink called nanassino, which is distilled from the ubiquitous local prickly pear (in Italian called fichi d'India, this cactus fruit is originally of course, from Mexico). This liquor is meant to have magical elixir-like properties. 

Cuncierto – distilled by nuns locally with a base of barley and balsamic vegetables and with the same properties as nanassino. 

Ravello wine - a local crisp, white wine from the hillsides behind the villages. 

Where to have your food on the Amalfi Coast

Osteria

Originally, the Italians went to an osteria for wines and simple food. It was often a place to head after work and these places tend to be cheap(er) and often open later in the day. Today there are lots of different types of osterie, ranging from places that have live music, byo food, or cater to students. 

Trattoria

A trattoria traditionally a relaxed eating establishment, similar to a French bistro. Trattorie often offer a changing menu, casual service and lower prices. Along the Amalfi you may find gamberi (prawns), cozze (mussels), branzino (sea bass) and aragosta (lobster) often served on a bed of pasta. Amalfi is a place for the gourmet who likes seafood. These types of seafood dishes can all be washed down with a local Ravello wine. 

Ristorante

A restaurant as we all know it. 

Gelateria 

You will also find in the larger towns, a wealth of gelaterias for ice cream. Try scoops of toasted almond, cassata (pistachio, vanilla & strawberry with sponge cake and nuts), and of course limoncello. 

Buon appetito!

Choose your Amalfi Coast holiday today or speak to our team for tailored advice (and their personal Amalfi food favourites). You can request a callback or reach out via phone or email.