The “pane cunzato“, which in Sicilian dialect means “seasoned bread”, is much more than a simple sandwich but a true tribute to the cuisine rich in flavors of the island.
Born as a simple meal for farmers and fishermen, this dish has humble origins and tells of a time when one made the most of what was available, transforming few ingredients into an authentic taste experience.
Traditionally prepared with the characteristic Sicilian bread freshly baked (or reheated), extra virgin olive oil, ripe tomatoes, anchovies, cheese, oregano, salt and pepper, pane cunzato is an explosion of genuine and intense Mediterranean flavors.
Today, it has become one of the most appreciated Sicilian street foods, much like the zingara in Ischia.
Now take a minute to read the recipe and then…let’s cook and eat!!
See also
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Cheap
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- bread (1 Sicilian loaf)
- 2 as needed tomatoes
- 0.66 lbs cheese (tuma, caciocavallo, primosale)
- as needed extra virgin olive oil
- as needed salt
- as needed dried oregano
- as needed black pepper (ground)
- 10 fillets anchovies in oil
Tools
- 1 Knife
Steps
To prepare pane cunzato, unless you decide to make the bread at home (HERE) and fill it right after baking, I recommend reheating the bread in the oven or air fryer at 392°F for 5-10 minutes. This way, the bread will be crispier.
Then cut the loaf in half lengthwise and drizzle both parts with plenty of extra virgin olive oil.
At this point, you are ready to start filling, first with the thinly salted tomato slices, then continue with the cheese slices about half an inch thick (I used primo sale, but you can add the cheese you prefer) seasoned with plenty of oregano, a pinch of salt, and a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper, and finally, add the anchovy fillets in oil that will give the preparation a sea scent.
Before biting, press the loaf with your hands so that the oil absorbed by the bread crumbs properly seasons the filling.
Split your pane cunzato in half and enjoy it with good company 😉.
