Spleen Sandwich - Sicily
The Spleen Sandwich, or 'Panino con la Milza', is a beloved Sicilian street food from Palermo featuring thinly sliced, seasoned beef spleen and sometimes lung, simmered in lard and served on a soft sesame bun. The meat is typically seasoned with salt, pepper, and often a squeeze of lemon, creating a rich, savory, and slightly iron-forward flavor profile.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This is a high-protein, high-fat sandwich, with the spleen providing a significant amount of iron and B vitamins. A typical serving likely falls in the range of 400-600 calories, depending on the amount of lard used and the size of the bun.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 480 kcal |
| Protein | 28 g |
| Carbs | 32 g |
| Fat | 26 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 650 mg |
| Iron | 8 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 15 mcg |
| Zinc | 5 mg |
| Selenium | 30 mcg |
| Phosphorus | 350 mg |
| Copper | 0.5 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 6 mg |
| Potassium | 380 mg |
Per 1 sandwich (approx. 250 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, it's a historic Palermitan delicacy that showcases nose-to-tail eating, turning organ meat into a beloved comfort food. Nutritionally, spleen is exceptionally rich in heme iron, making it a potent food for combating iron deficiency.
🍽️ Related dishes
AI estimate may be inaccurate · Terms