Despite its name, Italian food is not only pasta, pizza, and ice cream. It’s a cuisine that has evolved on the Italian Peninsula since antiquity. It also has spread to the rest of the world with waves of Italian diaspora. It’s Mediterranean cuisine that uses ingredients and cooking techniques from the region.
Pasta sauces
Whether you’re cooking for a large group or for your family, Italian pasta sauces can enhance the flavor of your pasta. They can be rich and creamy or simple and flavorful. There are many Italian sauces, varying by region. But they all have one thing in common: they’re delicious!
One of the most common pasta sauces in Italy is Marinara. This classic Italian tomato sauce is made with olive oil, crushed tomatoes, garlic, and parsley. The ingredients are blended together in a cauldron and served on pasta. Various versions of Marinara exist, with sweet and mildly acidic flavors. It’s commonly served with pasta, but it’s also used to cook chicken, fish, and other dishes.
Risotto
Whether you’re making risotto at home or in a restaurant, the basic recipe is the same. It begins with sauteed onions and garlic, followed by rice. After the rice is coated, the stock or broth is added in small amounts. When the rice is finished cooking, the mixture is seasoned with butter and Parmigiano Reggiano.
When the risotto is cooked, the rice absorbs the liquid, making it creamy. This process can take 20 minutes or more. During this time, the liquid is added in small amounts, stirring constantly. If the rice isn’t absorbing as much liquid, the recipe will need to be cooked longer.
Risi e Bisi
‘Risi e bisi’ is a one-plate dish of Italian origin. It is a classic dish from Venice, Verona, and Vicenza. Traditionally, this dish was served to the Doge, the leader of Venice. This dish is a one-plate dish that is rich in flavor and can be served as an appetizer or as a main course.
Risi e Bisi is a popular Italian dish that is served during the spring and summer. It is traditionally made with fresh peas, but it can also be made with frozen peas.
There are two kinds of rice that are often used for risi e bisi. One type is arborio. It is a type of risotto rice that is found in most supermarkets. Another type is carnaroli. This rice is semi-fine and has a rounded shape. It is the starchiest of the two varieties.
Ribollita
Known as ribollita, the soup is an iconic Italian dish from Tuscany. Ribollita is a soup that combines a mixture of vegetables with day-old bread to make a dense and hearty soup. The soup is typically served in soup bowls and drizzled with fruity extra-virgin olive oil.
It is a classic Tuscan soup that is popular in Florence and other areas of Tuscany. It is made from beans and other vegetables and is traditionally vegetarian. It is a good soup to have on hand for cold winter days.
Ribollita is typically made from leftovers or from a simple vegetable soup. In the past, the soup was a staple in the peasant and contadino world of Italy. In medieval times, it was food for the poor and a way to feed a family.
Focaccia
Among Italian food, focaccia is a common and famous flatbread. It is made with yeast and flour and baked on a hearth or coals. Depending on the type of focaccia, the bread is topped with a variety of toppings.
The basic ingredients of focaccia are water, flour, yeast, salt, and olive oil. There are various types of focaccia, including sweet and savory, which are often served as an appetizer or a side dish.
The sweet focaccia is made with honey, raisins, lemon peel, and sugar. The savory version is often topped with garlic and sage.
Ossobuco alla milanese
ossobuco alla Milanese is a traditional Italian food dish made with veal shanks that are cut crosswise. The bone marrow is exposed and becomes buttery-rich, giving the dish a rich flavor. It is usually served with saffron risotto and polenta. It is a relatively easy dish to make.
This recipe was originally found in Pellegrino Artusi’s 1891 cookbook. It was one of the first collections of Italian national cuisine. It is believed to have been served in local trattorias for centuries. ossobuco alla Milanese is cooked with extra-virgin olive oil and topped with a zesty gremolata.
Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Often referred to as “the king of cheeses,” Parmigiano Reggiano is an Italian hard-cooked cheese. It is produced in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. It is produced using cow’s milk.
The milk is collected from cows that live in the region, and then the whey is separated from the milk. The milk mixture is heated and then coagulated with rennet. It is then left to rest overnight in steel vats.
When the milk has coagulated, the curd is separated from the whey. The curd is then pressed into two wheels of 110 pounds each. The resulting cheese is laid out on wooden tables. It is then allowed to age for two years.