15 Traditional Genoa Foods To Try in 2025
Apart from its maritime history and the stunning range of architectural marvels, Genoa’s food truly captures the imagination. Traditional Genoa dishes also reflect the history of this vibrant destination, incorporating recipes that go back centuries.
Nestled between the towering Ligurian mountains and the clear blue sea, Genoa and food may not be the first things that come to mind when you plan a trip to Italy. However, we’ve got 15 delicious reasons to add this charming cultural hub to your travel list as soon as possible, especially if you're searching for the best eats in the country.
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The 15 Most Traditional Genoa Dishes
1. Pesto
While pesto is consumed across the world today, it originated in Genoa, making it one of the area’s most iconic foods. An exceptional type of basil grows high in the Ligurian mountains in the region of Pra in Genoa, which makes traditional Genoa pesto unique. With tiny green leaves, this plant packs a punch of flavor in each bite.
The most authentic pesto to try is whipped up with only a handful of elements — basil from Pra, Ligurian olive oil, garlic cloves (but only a few), pine nuts, Parmigiano Reggiano and pecorino cheese. Traditionally made with a mortar and pestle, these simple ingredients transform into a lush, vibrant sauce that proudly sits as the most famous Genoa food.
When in the city, you can taste this sauce in a variety of dishes, including with pasta, added to soups, spread on pizzas and even as a dip with crusty bread. If you want to try the best of traditional Genoa food, be sure to also try the famous local dish of pesto pasta with green beans and potatoes.
2. Focaccia
It is said that replicating authentic Genovese focaccia's exact taste and texture is nearly impossible. Even locals rarely make this Genoa food favorite at home and prefer to get theirs from bakeries and specialized focaccerie found all over the city. One of the reasons for the exceptional taste of focaccia in Genoa is the specific use of local Ligurian olive oil.
While this Genoa food is now seen across the globe in various forms, there are some key characteristics needed for it to be deemed authentic in the city. Notably, it cannot be thicker than two centimeters. It also has to have crispy edges but a soft spongy middle and should be coated with olive oil but never greasy.
3. Focaccia di Recco
30 minutes from Genoa is Recco, a small village known for not much more than its famous focaccia. This iteration differs from the popular yeasted, pillowy bread in the traditional Genoa dish just discussed. Instead, flatbread from Recco is made of two sheets of the thinnest dough and filled with a soft Alpine cheese called stracchino.
A quick bake later, and you are treated to a flakey dough drizzled with olive oil and oozing with melted cheese. Like other exceptional food around Genoa, this dish has been granted European PGI status and can only be savored in Recco and a few surrounding villages, making a day trip to this area to try the dish a must when in Genoa.
4. Pansotti
Along with other popular Genoa food, pansotti is deeply rooted in the region's terroir, i.e., it is made with simple, local ingredients. Pansotti is the Ligurian version of ravioli and another popular Genoa food to try. The pasta is traditionally filled with a mix of preboggion (fresh wild herbs) and prescinsêua (an acidic type of sheep or goat milk cheese) and served with a creamy walnut sauce or salsa di noci.
Traditional Genoa food recipes call for a mix of seven to 14 wild herbs, but since most of these herbs would be hard to come by outside of Liguria, modern recipes use a blend of parsley, chard, endive, chervil and spinach.
5. Cappon Magro
This dish originated as a poor man’s food in Genoa but later transformed into a feast for royalty. Cappon magro is a show-stopper of a salad and is usually enjoyed on feast days and holidays.
A dramatic dome of various fish, shellfish and vegetables is covered with a green parsley-based sauce and decorated with eggs, capers and olives. Many restaurants in Genoa and around the world now use more economical ingredients, such as tuna, shrimp and anchovies instead of lobster and oysters that were seen in the original, for a modern variation of this Genoa food choice.
6. Torta Pasqualina
One of the most indulgent foods in Genoa, Italy is torta pasqualina. Originating in Liguria, this vegetarian dish is usually made with a smooth filling of ricotta, spinach and eggs, all wrapped in a buttery pastry. According to Genoa food legend, homemakers originally made this traditional Easter dish with 33 layers of thin pastry — one for each year of Christ’s life.
While this is not necessary today, with most recipes featuring far fewer layers, a generous base and topping of crisp and buttery puff pastry still make it a holiday favorite and an ideal leftover snack for Easter Monday as well!
7. Fried Anchovies
A walk through the narrow streets and into the bustling port area will remind you why Genoa is considered one of the best foodie cities in Italy. As the fishermen bring in their catch every morning, restaurants stock up on fresh seafood for their daily menus, with most featuring the popular Genoa food of ‘bread of the sea,’ also known as fried anchovies.
The crispy little fish are usually dusted with chickpea flour and fried in hot olive oil before being served in a paper cone and enjoyed with a squeeze of lemon. If the time is right, add a glass of Ligurian white wine for a memorable meal or simply pick up a cone to snack on the go.
8. Farinata
When researching Genoa food, you’ll often find that the tastiest dishes are made with the simplest ingredients. Farinata is one such example. You may not think that an effortless mix of chickpea flour, olive oil and water could create a traditional Genoa food worthy of accolades.
However, this delicious dish with crispy edges and a soft and savory center is one of the must-try Genoa foods that will likely become one of your favorites. Locals often enjoy it with focaccia, allowing you to combine two famous Genoa dishes in one meal.
9. Stockfish
Thanks to ancient trade relations with the Portuguese, stockfish or codfish started appearing on every Genoa food list. Today, stockfish is used in two popular dishes. The first popular dish is stockfish alla Genovese, a one-pot stew with additional ingredients of olives, vegetables, pine nuts and a tomato broth.
The second is brandacujun, a mash of potatoes and stockfish seasoned with the best Ligurian olive oil. You can indulge in brandacujun on its own or spread it on small toasts as an appetizer.
10. Cima alla Genovese
If you are looking for an iconic dish from the repertoire of classic Genoa food, look no further than cima alla Genovese. What started as a poor man’s meatloaf-style dish that used unwanted meat cuts and vegetable scraps is now one of the most beloved dishes in Genovese gastronomy.
Cima involves a laborious process of filling a piece of veal meat (usually the belly) with various ingredients which can include offal, giblets and sweetbreads. Eggs, cheese, pine nuts, vegetables and bread may also be added. It is flavored with spices and herbs, boiled and served in thin slices, usually as an appetizer.
11. Trippa
Dating back to the early 19th century, tripe stew, or trippa, was the food of choice for the laborers in Genoa after a hard day’s work. Tripe stew is made with cow entrails stewed for hours with tomatoes, bacon and potatoes. It may sound intimidating, but it is, in fact, a melt-in-the-mouth Genoa food delicacy worth a try.
12. Tocco
Tocco is the meat sauce traditionally served with pasta like ravioli alla Genovese. Tocco is a Genoa food constant, the region's version of a ragù, but dare not call it a Bolognese or ragù! To make the dish, a single cut of meat is slow-cooked for hours until it results in a rich, brothy sauce.
The meat used to make tocco sauce is removed and used to make meatballs or added to other dishes. In addition to mushrooms, tomatoes and herbs, the pasta is topped with a healthy sprinkle of grated Parmigiano cheese.
13. Salsa di Noci
Salsa di noci or walnut sauce is a popular traditional Genoa dish. While less famous than pesto, this velvety, nutty sauce is an ideal accompaniment to pasta or a spread on crostini.
According to Genoa food rules, salsa di noci should be made with a mortar and pestle and use fresh walnuts, bread crumbs, garlic, olive oil and herbs. You can now find ready-made walnut sauce in fresh pasta shops or supermarkets, but nothing comes close to the taste of the homemade version.
14. Pan di Spagna
If you dabble in baking, you have probably heard of a Genoise sponge cake. This light, airy and soft cake is named after the city and is used as the base for several dessert recipes, such as cassata, zucchetto and zuppa inglese.
Also known as pan di Spagna, the recipe can be traced back to the mid-18th century, when the Genoese Chef Giobatta Cabona prepared the cake in honor of the visiting Spanish King (thereby explaining the nod to Spain in its name).
15. Pandolce
According to legend, in the 16th century, a competition was held among the bakers of Genoa to create a cake that represented the city and its food. It had to be long-lasting and nutritious and demonstrate the superiority of the port city.
Thus, pandolce was born. A non-yeasted sweet bread made with flour, sugar, butter, nuts, dried fruit and citrus peel, it is made at Christmas but can be enjoyed year-round.
Learn To Cook Genoa Food
As any intrepid traveler will tell you, the natural way to get to know a place is by immersing yourself in the local culture and traditions. And one of the yummiest ways to do this is by eating like a local. Taking a food tour in Genoa is one great way to do this. Taking cooking classes in Genoa is another excellent option, that allows you to not only taste the best Genoa dishes but also gain the skills to re-create them at home.
Whether you learn how to make pasta from scratch, whip up a batch of pesto Genovese or master the recipe for any other traditional Genoa food, these classes will help to fully immerse you in the Genoa’s culinary scene.
If Italy is on your radar, visiting this port city to taste the best of Genoa food should be on your to-do list. With so many delicious meals to try, you can plan your days around a range of culinary delights. From exploring the port for the freshest seafood to discovering family-run bakeries and homely trattorias, you are truly spoiled for choice when it comes to Genoa's food scene.
For even more ways to explore Genoa and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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