“Routes of taste” in Salento: Zollino, Spongano, Seclì e Ortelle

In local inns or in the most elegant restaurants, the typical cuisine of Salento is a real art that is celebrated on every self-respecting table. From fish dishes, in coastal resorts, to grilled meat typical of the hinterland, you will only have to choose and you will discover, through the flavors, a fundamental part of this land. In this “road map of taste” we advise you where to go and what to eat.

ZOLLINO – In the countryside of Zollino, the selection of the seeds by local farmers has made it possible to preserve some particular types of legumes that enjoy the De.Co. “Pisello nano” and broad bean (with a more flattened appearance and a pod with no more than 5 seeds) are included in the traditional agri-food productions of the Apulia Region. Also famous are chickpea, black chickpea, lentils and white beans.

But Zollino is not just a land of legumes. The symbol of this village is the “scéblasti”, a dough of bread seasoned with courgettes, olives, onions, capers and chilli which in griko means “without shape”.

SPONGANO – It is the homeland of “cunserva mara“, a tasty homemade preserve obtained from the sun drying of sweet peppers, hot peppers and tomatoes, which are then mixed in a perfect sauce to be spread on wheat bread or bruschetta.

SECLI’– It is the village famous for the “bits” of horse meat, to which a festival is dedicated every year after August 15th. The main course is accompanied by other recipes, always based on horse meat, prepared by the butchers of the town.

ORTELLE – In October Ortelle, on the occasion of the feast of San Vito, celebrates the pig Or.Vi., raised according to ancient methods following a specific protocol. The result is a delicate and tasty meat, with which sausage, ribs, skewers and capocollo are packaged for grilling or boiled or with sauce. Typical of Ortelle is also the “pirilla”, a homemade bread flavored with pieces of tomato, pumpkin, onion, black olives and, sometimes, raisins.

To find out where to stay to visit these and other villages in Salento, take a look here:

Holiday houses –> https://www.villainpuglia.it/EN/Home

Holiday villas –> https://www.villesalento.it/index.html#/    

For further information:

e-mail –> info@villesalento.it

phones –> (+39) 392/0202233 – (+39) 328/4617633