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- Pizza. Though a slab of flat bread served with oil and spices was around long before the unification Italy, there’s perhaps no dish that is as common or as representative of the country as the humble pizza.
- Bottarga. Smoked eggs from the rat of the sea. Wait, what? Don’t be put off by this rough description on an Italian delicacy because the other way to describe bottarga is “Sicilian Caviar”.
- Lasagna. Lasagna is a wide, flat pasta noodle, usually baked in layers in the oven. Like most Italian dishes, its origins are hotly contested, but we can at least say that’s its stronghold is in the region of Emilia-Romagna, where it transformed from a poor man’s food to a rich meal filled with the ragù, or meat sauce.
- Fiorentina Steak. A bistecca fiorentina, or Florentine T-bone steak, covers all of the characteristics of Italy’s best dishes: a specific cut of meat from a specific cow prepared in a very specific way all within the confines of a specific region.
- The Mothers of All: Pasta & Pizza – But What and Where to Eat?
- Arancini
- Lasagne
- Osso Buco Alla Milanese
- Prosciutto
- Ribollita
- Saltimbocca
- Gelato
- Torrone
- Tiramisu
One should not miss out on feasting on pasta and pizza, the two iconic traditional Italian dishes during their vacation. Pasta types vary significantly depending where you go in Italy. Be sure to try the regional specialties in the cities that you are visiting. If you are exploring beautiful Rome, order a serving of the pasta alla carbonara, prepar...
Crisp and golden brown, arancinirefers to a dish of stuffed rice balls. The rice balls are fried after being coated in a dusting of crunchy breadcrumbs. These rice balls are usually filled with ragù, tomato sauce, mozzarella and peas. Similar to pasta and pizza dishes in Italy, there are a diversity of regional variations of the arancini. The regio...
Believed to have originated from the city of Naples, this well-loved and yet another classic Italian dish is made by baking sheets of lasagne pasta layered with cheese, ground meat, vegetables and different varieties of sauces, such as the ragù, bechamel or tomato sauce. This dish should definitely not be missed out on if you want to have a taste o...
Meat lovers will rejoice at the thought of tucking into the osso buco alla Milanese! Tender veal shanks, braised slowly in white wine, is served with an array of vegetables. A serving of aromatic gremolata, a condiment made with lemon zest, garlic and parsley, is added to complete the dish. The meal does not end when you have finished the meat and ...
An Italian favourite, prosciutto refers to dry-cured ham, served uncooked and cut in thin slices. The finest and priciest prosciutto originates from the central and northern regions of Italy. Light, savoury and airy, the cured meat is usually served with pasta, or wrapped around slices of cheese or sweet melons.
Traditionally considered as cucina povera, or poor man’s food, the ribollita was created by servants who collected unfinished food, such as bread and vegetables, from their masters before boiling these items in water to make a meal. The origin of this dish gives rise to its name, which translates to mean ‘reboiled’ in English. Rich and hearty, the ...
The dish contains thin slices of veal, topped with salty prosciutto and herb leaves. These ingredients, joined together with a toothpick, are sautéed in a pan until the meat is done. Different varieties of meat, such as chicken and mutton are also used for preparing the saltimbocca. A well-made serving of saltimbocca promises to be a delectable dis...
A visit to Italy is not complete without having at least a serving of smooth, creamy gelato. Travelers who are on the hunt for the best versions of this delightful treat should check this article out for insights on where to find the best gelato in Italy.
Creamy and sticky, the Torrone is made with ingredients such as honey, egg whites, toasted nuts and citrus zest. Thick slabs of this candy are commonly found in cafes and candy stores throughout Italy. We recommend that you try the original version, as it is hard to beat. Those with a preference for decadent treats may want to try a new variety – t...
Light and creamy, the tiramisu is a well-known dessert sought-after by locals and travellers alike. Ingredients such as ladyfingers, coffee, eggs, sugar, cocoa and mascarpone cheese required in the preparation of this sweet treat. If you visit Rome, you can also attend Fresh Pasta and Tiramisù Cooking Classto learn how to make home-made Tiramisù. C...
- Spaghetti all Carbonara (Rome) Rome lays claim to several different pasta dishes, but perhaps its most revered is spaghetti alla carbonara, made from pancett a (bacon) or guanciale (pork cheek), Pecorino cheese, pepper, and a raw egg added at the last minute.
- Pizza (Naples, Rome or Anywhere!) Your first bite of a real Italian pizza might be transformative—you'll certainly never look at cardboard-tasting American delivery pizza the same way again.
- Fresh Cannoli (Sicily) You don't have to travel to Sicily to find decent cannoli, but at least make sure to buy it from an authentic Sicilian pasticerria (pastry shop).
- Lasagna alla Bolognese (Bologna) While there are many, many reasons Bologna should be on your Italian vacation itinerary, food is near the top of the list.
- Lasagne. Lasagne is one of the most popular traditional Italian dishes that has been adapted and evolved around the world. Its origins can be traced back to Naples or Emilia-Romagna (depending on who you talk to), where you can still find the authentic version.
- Risotto. Whilst Italy isn’t particularly well known for its rice dishes, risotto is a unique and unreserved part of traditional Italian cuisine. Originating in Northern Italy, risotto is a creamy rice dish cooked in a broth with saffron, butter, wine and onion.
- Spaghetti carbonara. Carbonara is another classic spaghetti dish very typically associated with Italian cooking and eaten around the world. Italian cuisine is an absolute haven of pasta dishes so it’s difficult to pick just one, but the carbonara just encompasses the simplicity of authentic Italian cooking so superbly.
- Aranchini. Arancini was first developed as a way to make use of leftover risotto by creating a uniquely Italian snack. Arancini are stuffed rice balls coated in flour and breadcrumbs and fried to a golden brown colour, but there are numerous variations of arancini depending on region including
- Lori Sorrentino
- Pizza! Naples or Sorrento, and most anywhere in Campania. We believe that every good Italian food tour should start with…PIZZA! While the cuisine of Campania and Naples has many excellent traditional Italian dishes, they’re known throughout Italy for having the best pizza in the world.
- Ribolitta. Tuscan-style Ribolitta in Florence and Tuscany. Tuscan food is famous for rustic peasant soups that have helped them keep warm throughout the ages.
- Balsamic di Modena. Bologna, Modena, and Emilia Romagna. Traditional Balsamic di Modena, is one of Italy's most famous regional foods.
- Risotto. Basilicata and Calabria for Risotto al Frutti del Mare (seafood); Venice and the Veneto for Risi e Bisi (Risotto with Peas); Milan for Risotto alla Milanese (with saffron); Campania for Risotto al Limone (with lemon).
Learn about the regional and historical influences of Italian cuisine, from pasta and pizza to risotto and polenta. Discover the famous and regional foods of Italy, from white truffles to focaccia, and how to enjoy them when you are in Italy.
Dec 12, 2023 · Discover the diversity and richness of Italian cuisine with this guide to some of the best classic dishes you can eat in Italy. From antipasti and seafood to risotto and meaty masterpieces, learn about the history, ingredients, and regional variations of Italian food.
