Discover Sicilian culinary delight with scaccia ragusana

Scaccia ragusana is a true gem of Sicilian cuisine, originating from the city of Ragusa. This baked dish is like a combination of pizza and lasagna. Imagine thin, crispy dough layered with aromatic ingredients. Sounds appetizing? That's exactly what scaccia is, and it's no wonder it has earned the nickname Sicilian bread in our kitchen.

When this dish appears on the table, eager eaters are never far behind. Simple dough made from flour and water is complemented by a sauce featuring Italian San Marzano tomatoes, along with eggplant, mozzarella, and Parmesan, sure to make your mouth water.

Italian cuisine relies on simple yet high-quality ingredients. It's worth choosing San Marzano tomatoes or semolina, which is a type of flour or fine grits made from durum wheat. By adding good quality Parmesan and mozzarella cheese, you will find yourself marveling in delight.

Ingredients:

Dough:

      
• 9 oz semolina,
• 1 teaspoon salt,
• 2 tablespoons olive oil,
• ¾ cup water.

Sauce:

        
• 11 oz canned San Marzano tomatoes,
• 2 garlic cloves,
• 1 handful of fresh basil,
• 1 teaspoon salt,
• 3 tablespoons olive oil.

Other ingredients:

      
• 1 eggplant,
• 4 tablespoons olive oil,
• 4.5 oz mozzarella in brine,
• 1 oz Parmesan.

Instructions:

Step 1. Place the semolina in a bowl. Add olive oil, salt, and water, then knead the dough. Form a ball, drizzle with a bit of olive oil, and wrap in plastic wrap. Let it rest for 30 minutes.

Step 2. Slice the eggplant and grill it on a pan or electric grill. You can also fry it in a pan.

Step 3. Pour the tomatoes into a tall container. Add the peeled garlic, basil leaves, salt, and olive oil, then blend until smooth.

Step 4. Roll out the dough into a rectangle and spread the prepared sauce over it.

Step 5. Top with slices of eggplant, torn mozzarella, and Parmesan. Add basil leaves and season with salt.

Step 6. Fold the dough to enclose the filling. Spread with sauce and fold into three parts. Refer to the recipe for detailed folding instructions.

Step 7. Transfer to a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and place in a preheated oven at 340 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for an hour. After this time, the Sicilian bread is ready. Enjoy!