The Top 10 Culinary Specialities of Corsican Food

Corsica: a special place with a rich culture

Corsica is a little piece of paradise sat in the Mediterranean. It attracts a great many tourists with its rich culture and stunning beaches surrounded by turquoise waters, not to mention its beautiful and diverse landscapes, from the Cap Corse to Bonifacio. But the Isle of Beauty also offers a varied and delicious cuisine that is not to be missed during your holiday in Corsica.

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What is the typical food of Corsica like?

Traditional Corsican food is at once filling and refined, benefitting from the best of both its French and Italian influences.
The wide range of ingredients that make up an integral part of Corsican cuisine include hearty produce drawn from the mountains, such as wild boar and brocciu cheese, as well as other fresher and lighter products such as olives and seafood, including sea bream and oysters. Meanwhile its selection of red wines is celebrated internationally for their full-bodied flavour.

Let's take a look at the Top 10 Corsican culinary specialities not to be missed during your stay in Corsica!

What are some famous Corsican regional dishes?

Brocciu, delicious local cheese

This delicious cheese belongs to Corsica and it could be said that Corsica belongs to this cheese, such is the popularity of this local culinary speciality. It takes its name from the French word brousse, which refers to a cheese made from goat or ewe's milk. The twentieth-century poet Emile Bergerat once famously stated that they "who have not tried it, have not been to the island". It is a cheese made from goat's or ewe's milk, similar to ricotta. And it is to be found in many dishes, whether savoury or sweet, such as brocciu fritters, or fiadone.

Fiadone, a classic Corsican dessert

This is a traditional Corsican dessert made with brocciu, eggs, sugar, lemon zest, and sometimes oranges. It is comparable to a cheesecake and was traditionally served during festivals. It is usually eaten fresh, sometimes covered with lemon liquor, honey or fresh fruits.

Canistrelli, tasty traditional biscuits

These small traditional Corsican dry cookies are usually eaten at coffee or tea time or, sometimes, even for breakfast. They are prepared with flour, sugar and white wine and infused with many flavours and mixtures of spices, such as lemon, aniseed or almond.

Chestnut flour cakes, a recipe passed down through the ages

Corsican chestnut flour is made using an expertise that, like many typical Corsican recipes, has been passed down from generation to generation. It possesses a unique taste and is often used as a main ingredient in a range of Corsican desserts such as cakes, pancakes etc. Pulenda, a local Corsican bread, is also made with chestnut flour, which imbues it with a soft texture recognisable by its slightly brown colour.

Veal with olives or veal à la Corse

This extremely popular stew is made from slow cooking veal with olives, tomatoes, onions, herbs from the maquis and a splash of white wine. It may take a little while for the flavours to infuse but the end result is a real treat for the tastebuds!

Lonzu and other cured meats

If you are a lover of a good delicatessen, Corsica is your foodie paradise! Corsican charcuterie is prepared with pork, and the results can be found throughout the region. When visiting, make sure you don't forget to try coppa, lonzu, prisuttu, or figatellu, a dry pork liver sausage flavoured with spices. Cut it into thin slices and savour the flavour!

Aziminu seafood stew, a Corsican take on bouillbaisse

As you might expect from an island, Corsica enjoys easy access to fish and seafood. However, while many types of fish and seafood can be caught off the island, including bream, red mullet, prawns and oysters, there is only one that captures the heart of all who try it. Aziminu, or Corsican bouillbaisse, is an absolute must for anyone visiting the Isle of Beauty. 

Corsican honey

This honey, also called Mele di Corsica, is the pride of the islanders. It has a unique aroma due to the huge diversity of plants that grow on the island of Corsica. On a trip to Corsica, you can expect to find many varieties of sweet and fruity or powerful and amber honeys.