Food Tour Naples Italy – List of Neapolitan Food and Pastries to try

The Food Tour Naples Italy is one of the ways to discover Italian food and pastries culture. Neapolitan cuisine, mostly known for its pasta, cheese, and seafood dishes. It was Influenced by diverse cultures and local aristocratic cuisine.

When you hear Italian cuisine, the first things that come to your mind is Pizza, Mozzarella, Risotto, and many more. However, Neapolitan cuisine is not just all about those that are mentioned.

Neapolitan Pastries would certainly attract visitors who have a sweet tooth. But before delving into Naples delicacies.

First of all, we should start first from its delicious food, Pizza. I’m pretty sure Neapolitan cuisine can satisfy any food lover in the world.

We recently visited Naples City, here are the 16 Best Places to go in Naples on a Budget – One-day Itinerary

On our second night in Naples, We had our first ever Neapolitan food experience. We went to eat out in a simple restaurant in a quaint part of the city. Hubby and I ordered some pizza in this decent pizzeria in the city, and it tastes unique and gratifying!

Pizza

On another day, after our tour in the Naples center. We decided to eat out in another Neapolitan restaurant which was Ristorante Pizzeria Mattozzi.

We ordered some pasta, and chicken pané Italian style. The restaurant has this huge modern wood-fired oven were to cook pizzas.

Check out Ristorante Pizzeria Mattozzi website

Wood-fired ovens or wood ovens are ovens that use wood fuel for cooking. Wood-fired ovens are distinct from wood-fired stoves. That have a hot cooking surface for pots and pans, like on a gas or electric stove. The one that we saw at the restaurant is a modern one.

Reading Italian history, Pizza became very popular among the people as well as barons or princes. It was even presented in the Bourbon court.

In honor to Queen Margherita of Savoy a nationalistic pizza. Where the colors of the Italian flag were represented by the mozzarella (white), tomato (red) and basil (green). It was called the pizza Margherita.

Neapolitan Cakes and Desserts

It’s time to turn the page and go our sweet treats for our Food Tour Naples Italy. As we were staying almost a week in this city. There’s one thing that’s inevitable from our bare eyes, and that’s the Neapolitan desserts.

There are a hundred ways to satisfy your sweet tooth. Some of the best-known desserts in Naples are Babà, Sfogliatella, Zeppole, Struffoli, Delizia al Limone and many more.

Cannoli

Looking at some of the desserts, I have noticed the Cannoli which is very popular in some Asian countries.

Cannoli are Italian pastries that originated on the island of Sicily. A staple of Sicilian cuisine as well as Italian-American cuisine.

Cannoli consist of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling usually containing ricotta.

While Wandering in the streets of Naples. You will surely see the street desserts display on every pastry store. I have seen a bunch of Italian desserts that I know that are existing in other countries.

I have observed one of the desserts display which is doughnuts. They call it Frittelle or there’s another one which is Graffa Napoletane. The one that I’ve seen was perhaps a sort of Graffa Napoletane. With an extra touch of chocolates and fruity flavors, absolutely tasty!

Graffa Napoletana

Graffa Napoletana is a sugar-coated fried donut. With a base of flour, eggs, and yeast usually served at Carnival time. But available throughout the year.

Graffa was invented during the Austrian domination of Campania in the 18th century. It’s a reworked version of the Austrian Krapfen. A small deep-fried sweets filled with jam.

Babà

Looking at other desserts on display, I have detected another familiar one. It was the Babà similarly, I tasted it before in France.

This yeast-leavened cake is cooked in a very hot oven. Which gives it its characteristic “mushroom” shape and amber crust.

It’s then soaked in syrup, traditionally rum, but sometimes a variation like a limoncello. It can also sometimes be filled with fruit, a pastry cream, or even Nutella. Babà is served in all Naples’ bakeries.

Babà comes in a different form not just only in its classic form (mushroom). But also in small balls or added with some toppings. Some other toppings are whip cream, flan, and fruits like strawberries, cherries, and others.

Crostata

There’s another dessert that caught my attention. It was with a Pastry crust filled with jam or ricotta or fruit.

Basically, a crostata is an Italian baked tart or pie “rustic free-form version of an open fruit tart” That may also be baked in a pie plate.

Crostata, known as Coppi in Naples and Sfogliate in Lombardy. it also refers to an “open-faced sandwich or canapé” Because of its crusted appearance, or a Chewet, a type of meat pie.

Certainly, one of my favorite desserts in Naples. Compare to Baba I really prefer this one.

Zeppole

Zeppola is an Italian pastry made with flour and water. Consisting of a deep-fried dough ball of varying size but typically about 4 inches in diameter.

Furthermore, this classic pastry popular all year round in Naples especially in Father’s Day. Usually, you can see Zepolla topped with powdered sugar.

Filled with crema (custard), and three black cherries in its classic version. Other versions include jelly, cannoli-style pastry cream, or a butter-and-honey mixture.

Therefore, you can also find some unique toppings. Like a swirl of lemon paste and some macerated Amarena cherries.

Sfogliatella

Continuing our Food Tour Naples Italy. The next dessert is the mother of all Italian Pasticceria which is Sfogliatella.

Hence, the oldest dessert of the Campania region. Sfogliatella dates back to the 17th Century and the convent of Santa Rosa on the Amalfi Coast.

Sfogliatella, or little leaves, is a flaky pastry in a clam-like shape. Made to resemble a monk’s cowl. filled with a mixture of ricotta, semolina, milk, candied eggs, and sugar.

Fillings of Sfogliatella can include almond paste or candied citron peel. The dough is shaped to form pockets. And is baked until the layers separate, to form the Sfogliatella’s typical ridges.

Probably the most interest Neapolitan dessert that I have discovered. While we were walking near the Royal Palace of Naples, we went for a snack, and it was the Sfogliatella that we chose to try.

Therefore I’m pretty amazed by this delicious delicious Italian dessert. I’d love to come back here to Naples again and try all the Neapolitan desserts.

Other Desserts

Aside from those that I’ve mentioned above, there are more Neapolitan desserts that you should try. Included in our list is Pastiera, made with ricotta, candied fruit, eggs, sugar, and wheat boiled in milk.

Next is Torta Caprese, a flourless chocolate cake usually topped with a dusting of powdered sugar.

Finally, Ricotta e Pera, an ice cream sandwich filled with whipping cream, ricotta, and poached pears.

Food Tour Naples Italy