Verona is a romantic city where art and culture are woven into everyday life.
Beyond sightseeing, tasting local specialties is a highlight of any Verona itinerary. From time-honored recipes to one-of-a-kind regional dishes, food is a delicious window into Verona’s soul.
Here are 10 must-try foods to seek out on your next Verona trip!
10 Must-Eat Specialties in Verona
1. Risotto alla Tastasal
Tastasal means “taste the salt” in local dialect. Traditionally, families cooked this simple risotto with seasoned minced pork to check the salt level for sausage making. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity—it’s deeply savory and a true comfort dish in Verona homes.
2. Lesso con la Pearà (Boiled Meats with Pepper–Breadcrumb Sauce)
A winter staple—especially at Christmas. Tender boiled meats and vegetables are served with pearà, a thick, peppery sauce made from breadcrumbs and broth. Rustic, warming, and quintessentially Veronese.
3. Pastissada de Caval (Horse Meat Stew)
A slow-cooked stew of horse meat with red wine and spices, said to date back to the 5th century. Traditionally paired with polenta, it’s rich, robust, and unique to Verona’s culinary story.
4. Risotto all’Amarone
Luxurious risotto made with Amarone della Valpolicella wine, often using local Vialone Nano rice and Monte Veronese cheese. A must for wine lovers—and one of the city’s most popular dishes with visitors.
5. Gnocchi di Patate (Potato Gnocchi)
A Carnival-time classic tied to charitable legends from times of famine. Enjoy with tomato sauce, gorgonzola, or butter and sage—simple sauces that let the pillowy gnocchi shine.
6. Polenta
Cornmeal cooked into a creamy base, commonly served with game, mushrooms, or cheese. Try Verona’s take with herring—polenta con l’aringa—for a local flavor twist.
7. Tortellini di Valeggio
Paper-thin pasta parcels from nearby Valeggio sul Mincio, filled with seasoned meats, cheese, and herbs. Look for them on trattoria menus around Verona.
8. Pandoro
Verona’s signature Christmas cake since 1894: tall, golden, and feather-light. Locals love it with a dollop of mascarpone cream—simple and heavenly.
9. Sfogliatine di Villafranca
A beloved specialty from nearby Villafranca (recipe traced to ~1870): delicate, donut-shaped puff-pastry cookies that are flaky, buttery, and dangerously snackable.
10. Fritole (Carnival Fritters)
These Carnival fritters are Verona’s answer to doughnuts—often studded with apples and raisins. Local twists include using grappa instead of rum and adding apple for fragrance and tenderness.
Wrap-Up: Enrich Your Trip Through Verona’s Food
That’s your checklist of 10 iconic Veronese bites! If you try just two, make it the Amarone risotto and Pandoro—signature flavors you’ll remember long after your trip. Buon appetito!
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Thanks for reading—and enjoy eating your way through Verona!