Ragusa scacce

Among the most beloved culinary traditions of southeastern Sicily, Ragusa scacce occupy a special place. A peasant dish par excellence, created to use simple, authentic ingredients, it is now one of the symbols of the Iblean territory.

During the Christmas season, when families gather together, scacce take center stage on the table: preparing them together is a ritual that unites generations and preserves ancient recipes handed down from mother to daughter.

What is scaccia?

Scaccia (in dialect, scacciare means “to fold”) is a thin sheet of semolina dough that is filled, folded several times, and baked in a wood-fired oven.

The best-known versions are:

• Tomato and caciocavallo cheese, the most classic;
• Ricotta and onion, typical of the winter season;
• Broccoli and sausage or spinach and tuma cheese, perfect for Christmas celebrations;
• Eggplant and tomato, more summery but always present on Iblean tables.

Basic ingredients (for 4 scacce)

• 1 kg of semolina flour
• 20 g of brewer’s yeast
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Approximately 600 ml of lukewarm water
• 20 g of salt

 

For the traditional tomato filling:

• 700 g tomato purée or sauce
• 200 g grated caciocavallo cheese
• extra virgin olive oil, basil, and salt to taste

Preparation

1. Dough: dissolve the yeast in a little warm water, add it to the flour with oil and salt, kneading until you obtain a soft and elastic dough. Leave to rise, covered, for about 2 hours.
2. Topping: cook the tomato sauce with oil and basil, leaving it thick and fragrant.
3. Assembly: roll out the dough into thin sheets, top with the sauce and cheese, fold the edges and roll up like a spiral.
4. Cooking: bake in a hot oven (200°C) for 25–30 minutes, until golden brown.

Duration and difficulty

• Total time: about 3 hours (including rising time)
• Difficulty: medium

It requires patience and manual skill, but it is very satisfying and fills your home with a wonderful aroma!

A festive dish

In the Ragusa area, scacce are mainly prepared for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, often together with breaded cod or tuma cheese and anchovies.

Each family has its own recipe and shape: rectangular, spiral, or rolled. In some villages, scaccia festivals are even organized, with tastings and ovens lit all day long.

Where to enjoy them

From Ragusa Ibla to Modica, from Chiaramonte Gulfi to Scicli, scacce can be found in traditional bakeries and local markets. In Ragusa, the Christmas season is the perfect time to taste them fresh out of the oven, perhaps accompanied by a glass of Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG wine.