Category: Italian Cuisine

Italy is the melting pot of cultural diversities. Over centuries many civilizations have influenced Italian culture and added to its incredibly varied ranges. Italian regions display their own colloquial cooking and flavor styles. Today we will discover a taste of Tuscany. Let’s explore the classic dishes in Tuscan cuisine. Unique ingredients and diverse cultural flavors are the staples of Italy. Italy is part of both the European continent and southern Europe. Italy shares Alpine borders with France, Austria and Slovenia. The food of Italy is famous throughout the world with dishes like spaghetti, lasagna and ravioli. They are being found across the globe but more importantly the rich variety of regional cooking is alive and well, preserving some of this country’s culinary history. 

Today we will be exploring the flavors of Tuscany, the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Tuscan Cuisine is quite unique and even differs between the provinces. Tuscany is all about food and wine. It’s all about the fresh produce which they’ll have homegrown or they’ll get it from the markets. Food is cooked very slowly. Tuscans enjoy the food with their family and their friends. They have lots of pork and wild boar which they make into small goods and then they will share.

1. Fresh Pasta 

Authentic kinds of pasta are made from durum wheat flour or semolina. Pasta has become a main staple for many kitchens.

To create a fresh pasta you need to pick a pasta of course and pick up some dried spaghetti at the supermarket to experience the culture of flavors of Italy. At home you can also make fresh pasta yourself. Pasta is made from mixing 2 cups of flour, fresh eggs and some semolina flour.

First you need to take some flour and gently put it on the kitchen table then add egg yolk. 

Mix well the flour with the egg yolk gently with your fingers in a circular motion. Soon the mixture as a paste starts to form a pasta dough. Press the pasta cob into the pasta machine roller. 

2. Tuscan Cuisine Herbs and Spices 

Anybody who has tasted Italian food will recognise the herbs and spices put in the dishes. Italian herbs are an essential part of Italian cuisine. They add unmistakable characteristics to any dish. 

Basil

The most common herb in Italian cooking is basil. 

Crushed basil leaves combined with oil garlic and pine nuts create the famous pesto sauce. 

Basil is the perfect complement to the flavor of tomato sauce. It also works well with pasta.

Oregano

Another herb, oregano, offers complimentary flavor to basil. It is also commonly used in tomato based dishes. 

Garlic

The garlic features at the top in Italian cooking ways across the country. Ginger is rarely used in Italy. Although it is very popular.

Fennel seeds

Also Italian cuisine includes fennel seeds which have a distinctive aniseed flavor. It is used on roasted meat or fish. Fennel seeds are often included in salads and dressings. 

There is a rosemary which does wonders to food’s taste and smell too.

Sage 

Sage is famous as the key herb in Sultan burka. 

Parsley

Italian parsley is recognizable by its distinct flat leaf. Parsley is used in many meat dishes, soups and stocks too.

Spices include coarse sea salt, fresh dried peppercorns, saffron and coriander. Nutmeg is used in several dishes and desserts. And vanilla is a popular dessert spice. 

3. Fettuccine al Funghi

For this dish you will need to select fresh mashrooms, fresh local varieties or a combination of both fresh and dry. Needs two cloves of garlic. You will also need a dash of olive oil and some dry vermouth.

First take your italian Parsley and chop it fine. Then slice your mushroom in evenly. Remove the excess moisture from them after soaking it in the water. Take the stalk of celery and remove the leaves and chop it into lengths. Slice them finely. Next chop your garlic and slice red onions. Now heat the pan and add some oil. Then add your mushrooms and dried mushrooms and celery and garlic with onions. Sprinkle some pinch of salt. Reduce the heat and cook it gently. Later add the butter and cook on gentle heat. Thus it produces a nice rich sauce . Finally, you can add your Italian chopped Parsley. Then cook your pasta to eat along with it. Mix both well and combine the flavor of pasta into the mushroom sauce.

4. Vegetables in Tuscan Cuisine

Italians love fresh vegetables and are famous for  their salad dishes. Italy is rich in vegetables and vegetable oils. It is one of the healthiest nations on the planet. Root vegetables like carrot, radish, turnips and beetroot all are prominent in Italian cuisine. Also onions and leeks too.  Cabbages , cauliflower, spinach and rhubarb are also a part of Italian cuisine. Squash and pumpkins are used as accompaniment. Bell peppers and potatoes are also part of Italian food.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are highly regarded in Italian Cuisine. They have all kinds of mushrooms. But the special one is porcini mushroom.

Tomato

The most important vegetable in the Italian market is the tomato. There are many varieties of tomatoes that are used in soups and sauces, also in pasta dishes.  

Cucumber

It is now a part of Italian culinary culture.

5. Coffee

Italians are deeply passionate about their coffee. And have two varieties of coffees. Mostly Italians prefer Arabica over the cheaper or Buster bean. Roasting beans changes their taste , color and smell. Italians enjoy full roast beans. Italians enjoy a wide range of coffee cafe. Espresso is brewed by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee. This process produces a highly concentrated shot of coffee. It actually forms the basis of many other drinks. For Italians coffee is an exception as a breakfast. Only milk is drunk in the early morning.

Coffee enjoyed after a meal.

6. Bread and Olives 

Bread

Italian meals feature bread in their meals. Bread range is too wide to choose from.

Italy produces 25% of all the olives grown globally from hundreds of varieties of olive trees. 

Olives

Olives in the south of the country produce the majority of olive oil. It is often used as butter as toppings for bread and for cooking. Also added to salads and cooked dishes.

Food originating from other countries always has a special place in our culture. As people like to try new tastes and food dishes from various other different cultures. Their spiciness, sweetness, bitterness, sour, and salty tastes bring in new items which become all time favorite dishes. So tasting food from other cultures is a remarkable experience. If you are not an Italian but love to explore Italian food, then read this article to find the influence of Italian Culture and Cuisine. Italian cuisine based on its geographical and historic contributions.

If you think Italian cuisine just includes pizzas and pasta then that’s not true. You can expect a full Italian course to delight even the most awkward of customers. The 20 regions of Italy, each contribute something special to Italian cuisine. Earlier these regions never shared their food specialities with other regions. There was not frequent traveling support. So the food specialities stayed in the same region for many years. And now they’re known for their authentic food dishes. 

Later, somehow people used to visit from one region to other just to taste the other region’s food items. Every region has its distinct style. Italy is not a large nation geographically, but has a variety of flavors.

The Northern Cuisine 

The regions which lie in the Northern and Southern most parts of Italy differ in climate. The Northern region is colder and the Southern region is warmer. In the Northern region, it is difficult to prepare pasta as the climate is cold. So pastas like tajarin, pappardelle, and tagliatelle were more popular. 

Other types of pasta popular in the North are stuffed pastas like ravioli. In the Northern part olive oil doesn’t grow as the climate is cold. Margarine and fat were utilized instead of olive oil. Vegetables that flourish in colder environments like in the northern regions are dark leaf kale, radicchio, cardoons, and cabbage.

The Southern Cuisine  

In the Southern area, as the climate is warm , Italians can prepare delicious dried pastas. Because dry pastas like spaghetti and rigatoni, their dough can get dried quickly in the warm climate. To grow olive oil it needs a warm climate. So it can grow abundantly in Southern parts. You can cut the pasta dough in various sizes and shapes. Later, keep it under the sun to make it dry. 

Tomatoes are one more sort of plant that grows better in a warm environment. In southern Italy cooking tomatoes are utilized intensely alongside red sauces.  Also, Broccoli raab and eggplants are two different sorts of plants that grow well in hotter climates.

The climate and weather affected the people’s diet. Different plants and trees grow as per the weather in every different region. Thus the regional culture of Italians was influenced due to the growth of the regional food. People began to call their regional food a staple food. 

Margarine and fat were utilized instead of olive oil. 

Alongside the environment, economy plays an important part in Italian cooking. One more staple in Italy, more established than pasta and pizza, is polenta. It is regularly utilized today, however some time in the past it was well known among the poor in Italy. Polenta was not difficult to make and get ready in Italy. 

Throughout the years, Italian cooking has become extremely assorted because of various viewpoints. Weather conditions influence the sorts of plants developed for food as well as ways of planning suppers. Different nations have straightforwardly affected Italian food. Restricted individuals generally have added to the variety of Italian cooking. These impacts make Italian food so tasty. Thus it makes Italian culture what it is today.

Italy offers its residents and tourists the best climate, fruits and vegetables. Tourists will feel amazing in the land of Italy. They would never feel the same experience elsewhere. Its scenery, history and culture are very important elements. The food here is of a variety of tastes. And don’t think that Italy only has good pastas and pizzas. It is easy to distinguish between different flavors of pasta and pizza. But it can be hard to differentiate in terms of different types of Italian wines.

Let’s see the top 10 famous Italian wines.

1. Barolo 

Barolo is an Italian red wine, produced and manufactured in Barolo DOCG. It is a famous area in the northwest region of Italy, in Piedmont. This wine has extremely powerful aromas and dry essence to it. To prepare this wine, you need to store them for 7 to 10 years right after harvesting before one decides to try it out. Flavurs from this wine includes taste of Chocolate, licorice, blueberries, rose petals and even black pepper which makes it spicy.

2. Chianti – popular deep red italian wines

People correlate it with the wine and this is how important wine is. It is created in the central region of Tuscany called Chianti. This one is named after the location where it is created and not the name of a grape. Today people might know Chianti as red wine. The fact is that back in 1398 it was white wine. Moreover, Chianti is also very complex as there are multiple types available. The speciality of this wine is it can be produced in central Tuscany only. If you want to detect if the wine is Chianti or not, then just sniff out the aroma of berries, spices and earthiness.

Usually it is displayed in a straw basket called a fiasco, this wine is a high end wine of Italy and one that you shouldn’t miss out on trying.

3. Nebbiolo

Similar to Barolo, this wine also originates from the northern mountains of Italy in the region called PIedmont. As the name dictates it is produced by using Nebbiolo grapes and is one of a kind. This wine is the lightest one out of all others. However this might be difficult to find as it has a strong scent. It smells like roses and wild red fruits. It will give your mouth to experience different flavors like cherry, earthy tones and even coffee and anise. The wine experts always suggest pairing the wine with roasted lamb rack, smoked duck, white truffle and even pasta. Each flavor complements the other. It can give your mouth a sensory carnival like experience.

4. Brunello di montalcino

It is also under the classification of DOCG. The cool fact is this wine is made completely from a type of Tuscan Sangiovese. It is referred to as Prugnolo Gentile or Brunello. This wine has a rich and thicker texture, which makes its bold flavor even more prominent. As it has a high amount of Tannin, it will give you an acidic taste. This wine has two different methods of creation. That is traditional and modern ways. In modern way, there is a huge difference in the number of oak lactones leakage, and lesser in traditional one.

5. Barbera

It is one of the most high end and rich red wines to exist and be created in Italy is Barbera. This wine tastes amazing. It is available in affordable price ranges. This wine is cheap and can help you get the charm that would be expected from a fancier expensive wine. With the low amount of tannin, it has flavors of fruits such as dried strawberries, blackberry, plum and dark cherry as well. Experts suggest drinking Barbera wine within 2 to 4 years. Italy has around 52600 acres dedicated to the production of Barbera. For food suggestions our wine experts would suggest that you drink it with herbs , high tannin foods like braised greens, and dark means would do as well.

6. Franciacorta

It is allocated in Lombardy and thus named as Franciacorta. It is not named after any type of grapes. The area near Lombardy situated near the province of Brescia is a place where amazing high end sparkling wine is said to be produced. It is produced by a highly skilled and  hardworking lot. This wine comes under DOCG. The aging period is not much. You can consume it as it becomes ready.. For this wine aging period is not that much, you can consume it within 18 months. The aging limit can increase up to 60 months for famous riserva wines.

7. Lambrusco – cheap and cheerful Italian wines

Each different type of this wine is different in taste. Some might have a lower acidity level while others can come with high acidity. It is a very underrated wine. As people start realizing it, this wine is slowly coming to the market. This wine is always paired with food in Italy. The food with high fat content is often paired with the wine, as it helps to balance the textures. You can consume this wine as an everyday drink. 

8. Amarone della valpolicella

It has a dry and rich texture. It is produced by dried grapes, this wine is usually created in the northeastern regions of Italy. Amarone is high quality and a supreme red wine. It is an extremely powerful dry red wine that is bound to lift the essence of your meal. Around 2 years you need to wait for the harvest, when you’re ready to consume. The process of aging includes huge oak wood barrels.

9. Barbaresco

It is also created in Piedmont. Created entirely from nebbiolo, this wine, quite similar to the barolo wine, has a high amount of Tannin in it. You will get the essence of the dryer side. It is the finest wine in the rest of the world as well.

10. Sangiovese

It is made from the Sangiovese grape. This red wine is known all over the world for its distinct flavor. This wine has a rich and savory taste. Also has a wild and bold essence to it. 

When you are traveling to Italy, you know you will find something tasty and delicious. There are so many regional dishes to try as you travel around the country.

Here is the list of what you have to eat in every part of Italy. Of course there are many more dishes to try! But here we have the classic regional dishes as recommended by chefs and foodies.

1. Pizza Napoletana

This regional dish is found in Southern Italy, Campania. The Italian pizza is most likely based on Pizza Napoletana which hails from the city of Naples. Made in a wood burning oven, this pizza has a thin crispy crust on the bottom. Toppings are simply fresh Mozzarella and San Marzano tomatoes. 

2. Spaghetti alla Carbonara

This dish is found in Italy, Lazio. You may not have learned about the Lazio region but heard about the capital city of Rome the foods that are most traditional to roman cuisine are primarily based in high-quality simple fresh ingredients. Decadent carbonara which is actually a more modern culinary invention from the 20th Century. It can be made with cream and Italian American restaurants. But this is a big culinary nono in Rome. Make sure to try some original carbonara when you’re in Rome. 

3. Pappardelle al Ragù di Cinghiale

This dish is found in Central Italy, Tuscany. Tuscans have local specialities that are totally distinct. One is Ragù di Cinghiale or wild boar sauce which is served with long and flat thick noodles like pappardelle. Ragu meat sauce is prepared in a similar way to traditional bolognese. But because of the fattier cut used it’s richer and more decadent Ragu.

4. Risotto alla Milanese

This dish is found in Northern Italy, Lombardy. This region is home to the famed design metropolis of Milan as well as many small towns. The dish named Risotto has become a part of Italian cuisine. This dish preparation involves beef marrow and saffron. You may have tried other variations of risotto. However, Risotto alla Milanese is the classic and a must try dish.

5. Arancini 

Sicily is home to Arancini; a rice dish. Sicily has its own culture, tradition and its own cuisine. It is distinct from other regions of Italy. Preparing Arancini is a specific task. Balls of rice are filled with meat, peas and saffron. These fried rice balls make for the perfect appetizer but in Sicily they almost become an entire meal. 

6. Lasagna Bolognese

This dish is found in Southern Italy, Emilia-Romagna. If you are a foodie this place is paradise for you. The region is known for countless numbers of the Popular Italian foods like prosciutto.

The most iconic dish is Lasagna Bolognese. Pasta layered with meat and tomato sauce. This rich meat sauce gets its name from the city called of bologna. Naturally lasagne is famous the world over! But for the real deal, you must try it in Emilia-Romagna.

7. Strudel di Mele

This dish is found in Southern Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige. As everyone knows Strudel is famous in German and Austrian cuisines. But what is it doing in Italian cuisine? Northern Italy, however, offers different types of food than the rest of the country. Due to it’s shared borders of Austria and Switzerland, you’ll find a mix of cuisines. Strudel di Mele is also called apple strudel. Strudel di Mele is the historic dish, it includes raisins, pine nuts and spices to the apple to create a unique treat. It is delicious! When it’s cold outside, warm strudel is a wonderful treat.

8. Cozze allo Zafferano

Cozze allo Zafferano originates in Southern Italy, Abruzzo. Abruzzo is one of the least visited regions of Italy. That doesn’t mean International tourists think it is a worthless place in Italy. Tourists just don’t know that they should visit! We are here to tell you that it’s worth a stop. Abruzzo has incredible seafood as it has an Adriatic sea border. One of the main ingredients you will find in every dish of that region is saffron. This is because of the abundance in the area.

9. Tagliatelle al Tartufo

Found in Central Italy, Umbria, aka “the green heart of Italy”. The traditional food of this region is very rustic, straightforward and deeply satisfying. A particular dish item is popular and luxurious elsewhere is relatively common to eat here.  If you visit Umbria, you must enjoy the local truffles. Truffles are usually black and earthier than the famed white truffles of Northern Italy.

10. Orecchiette

Orecchiette pasta comes from Southern Italy, Puglia. The name Orecchiette translates to “little ear”. In the capital city, many women sell freshly made home Orecchiette. They usually sell on the streets outside their homes in order to make a living. The perfect traditional shape of pasta is prepared in a dish called Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa.