Suppli – Rome’s quintessential street food
What is a suppli and how is it made? What’s the difference between a Roman suppli and an Sicilian arrancino? Where can you eat the best suppli in Rome? All this and more, in our guide to the Rome’s most loved street food snack.
Contents
- What is a suppli?
- Where to eat the best suppli in Rome?
- Suppli vs arancino
- The history of suppli
- The recipe of suppli
What is a suppli?
The most popular street food snack in Rome is suppli, a deep-fried rice ball, coated with eggs and breadcrumbs, filled with tomato ragu and mozzarella cheese. Although typical to Roman cuisine, it is sold throughout Italy as an antipasto in most pizzerias, pizza al taglio and restaurants.
Why is it called suppli?
According to legend, the name suppli comes from the French word ‘surprendre’ meaning surprise, in reference to the pleasant discovery of the mozzarella cheese inside the rice ball.
The relevance to the French word allegedly comes from the French soldiers during the Napoleonic occupation in the eighteenth century. Over time the name changed to suppli.
Once bitten into, stringy mozzarella attaching both ends of the supply resembles a telephone cord, hence the reason why the name ‘suppli al telefono’ is sometimes used.
To discover not only the best suppli in Rome, but also a complete insight into Italian cuisine in the capital, check out our selection of food tours.
Where to eat the best suppli in Rome
1. SUPPLI ROMA
Suppli, also known as La Casa dei Supplì (The House of Supplì), is in the Roman neighborhood of Trastevere. Open since 1979, this locally loved street food shop, is the most popular vendor of suppli in Rome.
High quality ingredients used include carnaroli rice, 24-month aged Pecorino Romano and San Marzano tomatoes.
Aside from the classic fried rice ball, other suppli options include traditional Roman pasta recipes such as cacio e pepe (cheese & black pepper), amatriciana (tomatoes, guanciale, Pecorino Romano, cheese, black pepper) and carbonara (guanciale, eggs and pecorino cheese)
In addition to suppli, there is range of other fried food such as arancini, calamari, codfish and mozzarella with anchovies.
Address: Via di S. Francesco a Ripa, 137
Phone: +39 06 589 7110
Hours: Mon – Sun 19:00 22:30
2. PIZZARIUM
If you are wondering where to get suppli near the Vatican City, look no further than Pizzarium. It is one of the favorite venues on our Prati by Sunset food tour, offering Rome’s best pizza al taglio, as well a variety of gourmet suppli and fried food.
Suppli ingredients vary from the classic version, to supplì with pumpkin and parmesan cheese, rigatoni with Genovese sauce and even lasagana suppli.
Read more on Pizzarium, alternatively watch our Pizzarium video.
3. SUPPLIZIO
Supplizio, owned by famed chefs Arcangelo Dandini and Lorenzo D’Ettore, offer some of the best suppli in Rome’s historical center.
Options vary from classic to cacio e pepe, butter and anchovies as well as the very first original suppli with chicken giblets, pork sausage, mozzarella, Parmesan, tomato and fresh porcini mushrooms.
Fancy something spicy? Take the arrabbiata suppli with pepperoncino.
The menu also features other treats such as fried custard with sugar and cinnamon.
Address: Via di S. Francesco a Ripa, 137
Phone: +39 06 589 7110
Hours: Mon – Sun 19:00 22:30
4. TRAPPIZINO
Opened by Stefano Callegari in 2013, Trapizzino is Rome’s most recent and innovative street food, a mix between a pizza and a sandwich, however their suppli are equally noteworthy.
Decision making in Trapizzino is tough, with a choice of 12 mouth-watering rice balls on offer, including supplì with Tortellino, mortadella
and nutmeg, or with leeks and taleggio cheese, as well as sausage and friarielli.
Ingredients are of the finest quality, with perfectly cooked rice, wrapped in a double and crunchy breading.
Address: Via di S. Francesco a Ripa, 137
Phone: +39 06 589 7110
Hours: Mon – Sun 19:00 22:30
5. SEU PIZZA ILLUMINATI
In addition to pizza, you’ll find a good selection of creative suppli and gourmet fried food on the menu, at the pizzeria Seu Pizza Illuminati in Trastevere.
Aside from the classic supplì, sous chef Mattia Lattanzio offers a variety of seasonal options with ingredients including mushrooms, sausage and taleggio cheese.
Don’t miss the fried eggplant and tuna.
Address: Via di S. Francesco a Ripa, 137
Phone: +39 06 589 7110
Hours: Mon – Sun 19:00 22:30
TESTACCIO MARKET
While exploring the Testaccio food market, be sure not to miss these three stands for delicious suppli, arancini and other fried food.
6. FOODBOX
Chef Marco Morello, prepares a variety of freshly made street food and suppli at the Food box stand.
Aside from their bestseller traditional suppli made with San Marzano tomato, risotto, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese and basil, other suppli options include artichokes, pork and chicken giblets.
7. DESS’ART
Dess’art offer delicious arancini, including ham and cheese, ground meat and peas, as well as pistachio nuts and ragusano cheese.
8. IN CIBO VERITAS
Looking for gluten free suppli in Rome? Head over to In Cibo Veritas (stand number 57).
Gluten free suppli options include original, cacio e pepe, eggpant and mozzarella and pecorino and artichoke.
TRIONFALE MARKET
Trionfale is the largest food market in Rome, with 275 stands spread out over 10,000 square meters.
9. LE MANI IN PASTA
Le Mani in Pasta (box 229) owned by Anna Moretti, offers a variety of handmade pasta, gnocchi and fried food, including suppli and fried potato croquettes.
See our post for a complete guide to food markets in Rome.
Supplì vs arancino
A similar fried snack to the Roman suppli is the Silician arancino. The main differences between the suppli and the arrancino are the shape, size and fillings.
- The arrancino is around twice the size of a suppli and round. The suppli is oval shaped.
- Traditionally arancini comprise of plain or saffron rice, with ragu mixed with peas or prosciutto, whereas the suppli is filled with rice cooked in a meat sauce with mozzarella in the center.
- Finally suppli is dipped in egg to hold the breadcrumbs before deep frying. The arancico uses batter to hold the breadcrumbs.
The History of suppli
The first written record of the suppli dates back to 1847, when it appears on the menu of the Trattoria della Lepre in Rome, under the name of rice soplis.
Prior to this, supplì were originally sold on the street by a supplittaro or at a friggitorie, which were Roman shops selling fried food.
The recipe of suppli
Suppli Ingredients (makes 5 suppli)
Ingredients
- 200g rice
- 100g tomato sauce
- 125g mozzarella
- 75g ground beef
- 50g Parmigiano Reggiano
- Breadcrumbs
- 1 onion
- 2 eggs
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 500ml vegetable broth, boiling hot
- 50g butter
- 50ml red wine
- salt & pepper
Suppli Preparation
- Cook Arborio or carnaroli rice in a saucepan with salted water until the rice becomes soft (around 15/20 minutes)
- Chop the onion and place in a separate saucepan with butter and heat until it becomes golden
- Next add the beef to the saucepan with the red wine and olive oil.
- Once cooked add the tomato sauce and broth
- When the rice has cooked add to the ragu.
- Sprinkle over Parmigiano Reggiano, salt and pepper and leave to cool
- Once cooled, use you hand to mold into oval shapes. Then place some mozzarella in the center and seal
- Place the rice balls in a bowl with the beaten eggs, then roll in breadcrumbs until they are completely covered.
- Fry the rice balls in hot oil and remove them once they are golden brown.
Buon Appetito!
For more information on food in Rome, visit our Rome Travel Guide.