The traditional foods of Abruzzo are one of the best ways to experience the tradition of this enchanting region

In fact, food is a veritable “ID card”, because every area of a country offers unique and inimitable products.
Of course, Abruzzo is no exception.

If someone says “arrosticino”, this wonderful region is the first thing that comes to mind. However, the delicious mutton skewer is only one of the many meat specialties: there are also the mortadella from Campotosto, local porchetta and a wide selection of salami and sausages. One of the most peculiar is the sweet liver sausage with honey.
The choice of cheeses is also wide: pecorino, caciocavallo and scamorza, the caciofiore from L’Aquila, the canestrato from Castel del Monte and many other specialties.

There are also many fruits and vegetables that are typical of the region, such as the red garlic from Sulmona, the artichoke from Vasto, the apples from Valle del Giovenco, the chestnut from Valle Castellana and many others.

Local honey and the comfit from Sulmona are instead sweet specialties.

In particular, Santo Stefano di Sessanio is known for a type of lentils that grow only on the slopes of Gran Sasso, in the unspoiled nature of the National Park. They are so small that they don’t need to be soaked in water before cooking.

The best way to appreciate their taste is to prepare a simple soup and cook them in water with olive oil, garlic, laurel leaves and salt.

Lentils are picked in August, but you can taste them in every period of the year, because they can be also desiccated.

If you want to try them, a “Festival of the lentil” will take place in Santo Stefano di Sessanio on the 3rd and the 4th September.

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit this splendid medieval town. You will be enchanted by its tradition and by its savors.