Cook's Illustrated

Pesto of the Islands

Fifty-five nautical miles southwest of Sicily sits Pantelleria. The windswept volcanic island, which is governed by the Sicilian province of Trapani but is geographically closer to Tunisia, was historically difficult to access by boat or plane, so the inhabitants ate almost exclusively what they grew or produced themselves.

“In general, the food in Pantelleria depends on creativity rather than variety,” said Mary Taylor Simeti, an American-born author who has lived in Sicily for decades and written about the culture and cuisine. “Doing imaginative things with a fairly

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Cook's Illustrated

Cook's Illustrated9 min read
The Magic of Gua Bao
Graze your way through one of the many night markets in Taipei, the alleyways bright with neon, the humid air thick with the mouthwatering aromas of o-ah jian (oyster omelet), chou doufu (stinky tofu), and sian su ji (popcorn chicken with fried basil
Cook's Illustrated4 min read
Everyone Loves a Green Sauce
Green sauce is like a common language with distinct regional dialects. Cooks from every corner of the globe throw together dazzlingly verdant dressings and dips from herbs, chiles, and/or other green vegetables as a fast, easy, waste-averse way to in
Cook's Illustrated2 min read
Cook's Illustrated
Editor in Chief Dan Souza Editorial Director Amanda Agee Deputy Editor Rebecca Hays Executive Food Editor Keith Dresser Managing Editor Elizabeth Bomze Deputy Food Editors Andrea Geary, Lan Lam Senior Editors Steve Dunn, Annie Petito Associate Editor

Related