Amaretti (Sicily)

Amaretti, the famous Italian almond cookies are so popular in their homeland that almost every region has their version of the recipe, using different proportions and combinations of the basic ingredients: sweet and bitter almonds, apricot kernels, eggs, and sugar. The Sicilian version is made with egg whites, sugar, and both bitter and sweet almonds, preferably the world-famous ones grown in the province of Syracuse, in south-eastern Sicily, around the cities of Noto, Avola, Rosolini, and Canicattini Bagni. Besides almonds, Sicily is also renowned for exquisite pistachios, so it is also possible to stumble upon amaretti made with pistachios instead of almonds.