Italy is a European country that is famous for its rich culture, art, and architecture. The country is also famous for its rich culinary heritage. Most tourists visiting Italy today do so primarily to experience the Italian food culture and authentic dishes. Italian food is more than just a meal; it tells a story about family, heritage, and values that are important to the Italian people. Some of the most popular Italian dishes are discussed below.
Pizza
Pizza is probably the dish that Italy is most famous for around the world. Almost everyone around the world knows about this dish and that it originated from Italy. Interestingly, the pizza most of us know is different from what is offered in Italy. There are two major variations: pizza Napoletana, also known as Neapolitan pizza or Naples-style pizza, has a thicker crust and is small. Roman pizza, also known as pizza Romana, is inspired by Roman influences, and it has a crispier, larger, and thinner crust.
Italian history states that pizza has been around in Italy for several centuries. One of the most popular types of pizza was created in 1889 when Queen Margherita of Savoy visited Naples. The queen was tired of the French cuisine so she ordered a famous pizza maker, Raffaele Esposito, to create a new type of pizza for her. Esposito made her a pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil, which she approved. He then sought the queen’s approval to name the pizza Margherita, in her honor, which she approved. Since then, various versions of this pizza have been adopted and recreated across various countries on the globe.
Pasta
The Italian cuisine offers an unlimited variety of pasta dishes that are made from scratch using simple and fresh ingredients. A combination of flour, olive oil, eggs, salt, and water provides over 400 pasta dishes that are enjoyed all over Italy and across the globe today. Some popular pasta dishes include tagliatelle, pappardelle, spaghetti, fettuccine, and pesto. Different regions in Italy have their signature way of preparing pasta. For instance, Tuscany is known for its pappardelle while Rome is popular for its fettuccine.
Italian pasta dishes are created using different methods. For instance, pasta can be made with a creamy pesto, it can be stuffed, or made using tomato sauce. One of the most popular pasta dishes is spaghetti a la carbonara which is made using pecorino cheese, eggs, guanciale, and black pepper. Several of these pasta dishes have been adopted by other civilizations across the globe.
Risotto
Risotto is a creamy dish with rice as the primary ingredient. The creamy texture is achieved by adding a generous amount of parmesan cheese. This dish is usually eaten as a main carbohydrate part of a meal as it is often accompanied by protein, such as a seafood dish, and greens.
A popular variation of risotto is called arancini, which are small deep-fried balls of risotto that are stuffed with ragù (a meat sauce usually served with pasta) or mozzarella. They are a popular snack as they are packed with energy. They are ideal for breakfast and for energy boosts needed by active individuals in the middle of the day.
Lasagna
Like other Italian delicacies, lasagna has also been adopted across the globe, with various variations available in convenience stores in frozen form. Making this dish almost as popular as pizza and pasta. Traditional Italian lasagna is made with ragù, Parmigiano cheese, and béchamel sauce sandwiched between hand-made sfoglia sheets. These sheets are a type of flat pasta, made from flour, eggs, olive oil, salt, and water.
History links the origin of lasagna to Rome. From Rome, lasagna made its way to Bologna, where it was adapted to Italian cuisine. Lasagna was a popular dish among key figures in the history of Italy. Most Italian locals enjoy it because it is soft and easy to digest. It is easily one of the local favorites because it is packed with flavor. Several countries across the globe have adapted lasagna and modified it to suit their local tastes and preferences.
Brodetto
Brodetto is another popular Italian dish that is often shared among two or more people. This dish is a type of traditional seafood soup that is often served as a single main course. The types of fish usually included in this dish are prawns, mullet, ray, and redfish. They are brought to boil in a pot full of tomatoes, garlic, and parsley, among other regional spices.
Locals enjoy this dish by dropping pieces of bread in the soup shortly before starting to eat. The chunks of seafood are then consumed first as the bread absorbs the soup. Then, the soaked pieces of bread are eaten before a handful of a type of spaghetti called capelli d’angelo (translated as ‘angel hair’) is placed in the pot and mixed with the remaining soup. This dish is common in Vasto, along the Adriatic coast.
Gelato
This is one of the most popular Italian desserts that are made from fresh farm ingredients. Gelato was inspired by Sicilian recipes that created a cold dessert using fruit juice and snow from Mt. Etna. Today, Italian gelato is made using milk, eggs, sugar, and cream. A variety of Italian flavors of gelato were developed over time including lemon, nuts, pistachio, toasted almonds, and mandarin orange. In some parts of Italy, gelato is eaten with a brioche bun, just like how Sicilians did traditionally. The bun can be used to scoop up the gelato. In some cases, gelato is spread in the middle of the bun like a spread. However, today many people enjoy gelato on a cone or bowl.
Several countries have also adopted this desert and sold it locally. The thing that sets gelato apart from ice cream is that it has very little fat content and a very distinct flavor as it does not come into contact with water or air during its preparation. Gelato does not have any artificial additives or preservatives, making it highly perishable. Therefore, it is stored in temperatures lower than ice cream, giving it a smoother texture. It is a very refreshing snack, especially during summer.
Italian cuisine offers more than a culinary experience because it is a way of life. It is also a crucial part of the country’s traditional values. Italian flavors have inspired the development of dishes in various nations across the globe. With all that Italy has to offer, visiting the country to experience its authentic flavors and culture must be on everyone’s bucket list.
References
Macuk, D. (2020). Ultimate guide to Italian cuisines: Food in Italy. https://www.chefdenise.com/all/what-to-eat-in-italy-1
Marchetti, S. (2023). Italian food: Classic dishes everyone needs to try. CNN Travel. https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/classic-italian-dishes/index.html
Neilson. (n.d.). Famous food and drink of Italy. https://www.neilson.co.uk/beach/activities/articles/famous-food-and-drink-of-italy
Thalassinou, M. (2024). Famous food in Italy: A culinary journey through iconic dishes. https://greeking.me/blog/italy-travel-tips/famous-food-in-italy
