Few things summon the spirit of Palermo quite like a slice of mattonella. This much-loved street-food staple is a beautiful lesson in simplicity: soft tuma cheese, ribbons of ham and a bright layer of tomato sauce, all wrapped in buttery puff pastry and baked until irresistibly golden.

It’s the kind of thing you might spot in the window of a neighbourhood bakery or pick up from a bustling street stall - warm, fragrant, and impossible not to nibble before you even get home. The contrast between the crisp pastry and the molten filling is enough to transport you straight to a Sicilian morning, where breakfast often leans savoury and wonderfully indulgent.

Whether served as part of a leisurely breakfast or as a satisfying lunch, Palermo’s mattonella is a delightful slice of Sicilian comfort - simple, generous, and utterly moreish.