Savoring Sicilian scaccia: A delectable fusion of flavours

Scaccia ragusana is a true treasure of Sicilian cuisine, originating from the city of Ragusa. It is a type of bake that can be compared to a cross between pizza and lasagna. Imagine thin, crispy dough filled with aromatic layers of ingredients. Sounds appetizing? That's exactly what scaccia is, which has quickly gained the nickname Sicilian bread in our kitchen.

There's no shortage of eager eaters when it appears on the table. A simple dough made from flour and water with a sauce based on Italian San Marzano tomatoes, eggplant, mozzarella, and Parmesan quickly makes your stomach start rumbling.

Italian cuisine relies on simple yet high-quality ingredients. It's worth choosing San Marzano tomatoes, semolina, a type of flour, or fine grits made from durum wheat. Add good-quality Parmesan and mozzarella cheese, and you can marvel in delight.

Ingredients:

Dough:

• 250 g semolina,
• 1 teaspoon salt,
• 2 tablespoons olive oil,
• 175 ml water.

Sauce:

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

Other ingredients:

• 1 eggplant,
• 4 tablespoons olive oil,
• 125 g mozzarella in brine,
• 30 g Parmesan.

Instructions:

Step 1. Pour semolina into 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. Set aside 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 tomatoes into a tall container. Add the peeled garlic, basil leaves, salt, and olive oil, and blend.

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

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

Step 6. Fold the dough to cover the filling. Spread with sauce and fold into three parts. Refer to the recipe for detailed instructions on how to do this.

Step 7. Transfer to a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and place in an oven preheated to 170°C. Bake for an hour. The Sicilian bread is ready after this time. Enjoy!