Carota novella di Ispica IGP
Detail
Can a simple vegetable like the carrot tell the identity of an entire territory?
The answer is yes, especially if the vegetable in question is the delicious Carota Novella di Ispica PGI. Let’s take a trip to its homeland, Ispica in the province of Ragusa, and discover together the secrets of a Sicilian food excellence.
Sweet, tender and with an unmistakable intense orange colour, the Ispica carrot began to be cultivated in the Ragusa area in the mid-1950s, immediately making a name for itself on the national and international market for its characteristics:
‘You can recognise it immediately because of its distinctive, herbaceous and intense aroma,’ say the main foreign importers, who have taken the Ispica carrot on a tour of Europe to obtain the coveted PGI label.
What are the characteristics of the Carota Novella di Ispica PGI and how best to use it in the kitchen? We asked the producers, who identify the distinctive traits of a truly exceptional vegetable in its earliness (it ripens as early as February, not by chance it is called ‘’novella‘’), shape and organoleptic properties.
The Carota Novella di Ispica PGI is so sweet and tender that one cannot resist eating it raw, in pinzimonio or in salads. Delicious also steamed, for the most delicate palates, the Ispica Carrot is one of the most popular ingredients in Sicilian cuisine, suitable for every combination: from starters to cakes, to succulent soups, caponata and… why not, even jam!
Tasting and buying the Carota Novella di Ispica PGI directly from the producer is the perfect opportunity to visit its territory of origin: beautiful Ispica and its surroundings.
Set in nature, the city immediately reveals its Baroque personality with important Art Nouveau references. A walk through the historic centre is enough to appreciate its monumental beauty: starting from Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore, we visit the basilica of the same name and continue towards the Church of San Bartolomeo. Among the Art Nouveau palaces, on Corso Umberto I, stands Palazzo Bruno di Belmonte, the most important testimony of this style in the province of Ragusa.
To learn about the city’s more ancient history, we must head north-east: here lies the Parco Forza, incorporated in the larger Archaeological Area of Camarina and Cava d’Ispica, a must-see itinerary for lovers of archaeology and ancient rock settlements. A place that becomes magical at Christmas time, when it is transformed into the set of one of Sicily’s most important living nativity scenes.
Has your visit whetted your appetite? Then all that remains is to make a stop at one of the many restaurants and agriturismi offering typical dishes based on the delicious Carota Novella di Ispica PGI.
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