My friend at work gave this recipe to me. Pizza, pasta, risotto, pesto, prosciutto… Italian food is loved all over the world. It is also one of the famous base foods for fusion practices around the world. A famous hearty soup from the region of Tuscany, Ribollita is a soup made of bread and vegetables. These are sweated, sautéed, or braised, then slow-cooked to produce a thick, rich, meat sauce. I really enjoy the blend of lettuces and I often serve this salad with Italian meals." Neapolitan pizza is a Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG) product in Europe. It is very popular in the summer in Tuscany and has many recipes that add in various ingredients such as cucumbers and basil. Order prosciutto crudo with melon as the perfect starter or a light snack. Tiramisu means “pick-me-up” in Italian and it’s a very fitting name for this delicious Italian dessert. Leave a comment below! Usually served as an appetizer (or antipasto in Italian), Focaccia is a flatbread with many different variations depending on the region where you get it. It is a versatile dish that is best enjoyed when sitting outside on a warm summer day. Cannoli comes in many different sizes from as long as a finger to other varieties as big as the size of a fist. Fresh sardines are fried to a crispy golden brown, and drizzled with a garlic and white wine vinaigrette then topped off with a sprinkling of fresh mint leaves. This antipasto platter goes way past jarred peppers and cold cuts, with roasted vegetables that change with the seasons. Photo: MOZCO Mateusz Szymanski/Shutterstock. Note: veal is a very controversial ingredient. The white wine is a must in this dish. The recipe can have many variations as well with other types of pasta such as fettuccine or linguine as well as different cheeses like parmesan. The story goes that the pizza Margherita was invented in Napoli by Raffaele Esposito. In essence, polenta is a boiled cornmeal or another grain. Is there a better combination than bread, cheese, and tomato? In the Italian version, vanilla is replaced by anise. The meat is taken from the sirloin of the very specific Chianina breed of cattle. Visit Norcia in February and you can even join in the Norcia Truffle Fair, Mostra Mercato del Tartufo Nero di Norcia. The Bistecca Alla Fiorentina is served along with a few typical Tuscan side dishes including roasted potatoes, cannellini beans and spinach with cheese. Or is there an authentic Italian dish that we missed out? Head to the city of Bologna for a traditional pasta bolognese. First, the ham is cleaned and salted. While in Bologna enjoying your tortellini, make sure to check out the top things to do in Bologna. It is made of layers of sponge biscuits called ladyfingers that are soaked in coffee and a mixture of soft mascarpone cheese that is flavored with cocoa and combined with a whipped mixture of eggs and sugar. Real talk: This is a dish to make when the tomatoes are peaking—at the farmers’ market, you should be able to smell them before you see them. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. He combined cheese, tomato, and basil to reference the Italian flag and named the creation after the visiting Queen Margherita. That’s practically a whole other Italian cuisine in itself!). Due to the differing recipes, it’s difficult to tell exactly where the dish has its roots, though it’s most famous in Rome. A less intense version of the Negroni, gin is swapped out for sparkling water. Despite being the most copied pizza in the world, its worthwhile to note that the authentic and true to its roots Neapolitan Pizza is still only found in Naples because of the strict requirement of using only the freshest ingredients available locally. Where to Eat Pizza in Italy? The general rule of thumb is to go for quality over quantity when it comes to ingredients. The Fiorentina Steak, also known as Bistecca alla Fiorentina, is an Italian steak using cuts of the meat from the loin near the leg of a heifer (a cow that has not borne a calf). Taken from the plants of marrow, zucchini (courgette), and other types of squash, the blossoms are battered and fried, stuffed, made into soup, or simply eaten raw. Italian food is characterized by quality, the richness of taste and simplicity in ingredients. One of the great things about Italian food is its unique feel for the holiday seasons. Ingredients can range from veggies to meat, to fish, but most recipes include butter, onion, white wine, and – of course – a good helping of parmesan cheese. Want to know more about Italian food? The art of making Neapolitan Pizza is included on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. As the name suggests, Finocchiona was taken from the Italian word for fennel, “Finocchio”. This recipe is a standard. Another great Italian bread product, focaccia has a similar consistency to pizza dough. Lemon makes the perfect foil for carbonara’s salty richness. Hearty osso buco is a casserole of braised veal shanks, vegetables, white wine, and a rich broth. A recipe from my home in Emilia-Romagna, Italy; this lasagna made with spinach pasta cannot be beat. The name focaccia comes from the Latin, meaning “hearth” or “place for baking.”. There's nothing quite like these classic Italian recipes, from Cacio e Pepe to Pasta a la Gricia, and hello, pesto. The little black dress of Italian-American cooking. What is the biggest meal of the day in Italy? However, pasta carbonara is a real classic. The name describes the regions which made this Italian cheese famous: Parma and Reggio, both provinces within the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The Italian culture of food is about living the kitchen every day, how to join good food and ancient traditions to a greater awareness of the use of food. Make room in your recipe box for your new favorite cookies. Traditionally, this Naple-styled pizza emphasizes fresh tomatoes and mozzarella from specific regions of Italy. Is there anything more satisfying than tucking into a steaming plate of risotto? Many Italian dishes are used as a basis for fusion foods around the world due to their simplicity. I have no idea why this amazingly flavorful Genovese-style meat sauce isn't way more popular than it is. It is considered more of a family occasion than a simple meal so it often lasts longer than lunch or breakfast. Ragù alla Bolognese is a pasta dish made of fresh tagliatelle pasta and Ragù sauce and it is often referred to as the national dish of Italy. A number of traditional goodies are laid on at Easter including Minestra di Pasqua. However, the name “pesto” actually derives from the word “crushed,” so you may see the word “pesto” used for other sauces or concoctions made by grinding with a pestle and mortar. We have a plethora of classic pasta dishes here, from a traditional Bolognese ragù to Roman favourite spaghetti alla carbonara. This recipe calls for a batter-like dough and is baked on a pizzelle iron. The innkeeper tried to spy on her beauty through a keyhole, but all he could see was her navel and was inspired to make pasta in this shape. It can also be added to other dishes and often accompanies them. Arancini are stuffed rice balls, that are coated in bread crumbs and then fried. Traditionally, Tortellini pasta dough is made of flour and eggs then flatten to a thin wrap. Did we include your favorite traditional Italian food above? On paper, polenta doesn’t sound like the most appetizing of Italian foods, but it is truly authentic and a staple in Italian cuisine. Instead of frying the vegetables in preheated, hot oil, you combine the vegetables and room temperature oil in a pot and heat them up together. An excellent chunky pasta sauce with beef, pork, lots of vegetables and tons of flavor. Cooking lamb shanks uncovered in their broth simultaneously browns and braises them, adding richness and color. The process of making prosciutto is an art form. Stuffed versions include fillings of prosciutto and mozzarella, with a light coating of batter. It is creamy and not thick, which is why our family LOVES it! Tortellini is often described as being navel-shaped, which is where they get their Italian nickname, ombelico (“belly button”). It's really good and turns any pile of pasta or rice into a memorable meal. Clams vary in brininess and the amount of liquid they’ll release during cooking, so you’ll need to adjust the salt and add pasta water accordingly. However, with fewer buffalos being herded in the region, most Mozzarella cheeses are now made from cow’s milk. This bread is the perfect marriage of a crisp, light crust outside and a chewy yet tender inside. You’re sure to see strengozzi al tartufo on the menu; strengozzi is a thin noodle-type pasta, similar to fettuccine, whilst “tartfufo” means truffle. Ossobuco is a rich Italian dish that consists of veal shanks braised with vegetables, white wine, and broth. "This has become one of our favorites. Here are 15 traditional dishes to indulge your taste buds as well as more information about Italian cuisine. Ragu Alla Bolognese is informally referred to as the national dish of Italy. Or if you would like to have an Italian Christmas at home, follow this foodie guide to your perfect festive meal the Traditional Italian Christmas Food. Perfect for starting an ideal Italian meal! Who doesn’t love delicious food from Italy? Spaghetti alle Vongole it is cooked with white wine, garlic sauce, and parsley. Delicious relish or appetizer that can be served hot or cold! Does food in Italy get any better than an authentic pizza in Naples? Christmas and Easter alone bring a selection of specially made foods, both sweet and savoury that will tempt the taste-buds. It’s often served with trofie or trenette pasta, with potatoes and string beans thrown in too. A traditional Italian soup. Traditionally, the cut used for this dish comes from the top of the shin which has more bones than meat. Then toppings are added to the pizza dough such as tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil. Interestingly, during the Great Fire of London in 1666, Samuel Pepys buried his parmesan cheese, as well as his wine, in order to preserve it. Powdered sugar adds an elegant touch. Typical Italian hearty winter fare done easy! You may find this bread served as a side dish, such as focaccia al rosmarino (focaccia with rosemary), or as sandwich bread. Ragù is a sauce commonly served with pasta but is also used in many other Italian dishes as well.