Traditional Italian food is a diverse mix of regional cuisines, reflecting the country’s climate, history and geography. Authentic Italian cooking is simple and flavorful, with few complex sauces and plenty of fresh ingredients.
Antipasto
The most popular appetizer in Italy is the antipasto, or “before the meal.” This dish usually consists of a selection of cheeses, olives, vegetables, or fried items like zucchini flowers and croquettes. It’s usually served as an appetiser to begin a meal, before the main course of soup, pasta, or risotto.
Salami
Traditional salami is made with pork meat mixed with high-quality pork fat, salt, pepper, garlic, wine, fennel, and cinnamon. It’s a very popular Italian food and can be found throughout the country.
Polenta
Polynata, or polenta, is an Italian staple that is made from corn flour. It is often prepared with a tomato or vegetable base and is eaten across the country, as well as in neighboring countries such as Switzerland, Slovenia and Croatia.
Pizza
A slice of pizza is a favorite traditional Italian food that can be enjoyed on any occasion. There are many different kinds of pizza in the country and some have special toppings like ricotta or spinach.
Focaccia
Flatbreads are another traditional Italian food, which can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. They are a popular snack, appetizer, and sandwich bread.
Pasta
Pasta is a common Italian dish that is a mix of flour, eggs, water and salt. There are many types based on shape and region, including spaghetti (long, thin strands of pasta), penne (tube-shaped pasta from Liguria), fettuccine (long, flat pasta from Rome), and tagliatelle (thin, long pasta ribbons from Bologna).
Ravioli
Ravioli are square-shaped pasta with a filling that can be a mix of meat, cheese, or fruit. The filling can vary from region to region, but the most common is spinach and ricotta in the Lazio and Rome regions, while Sardinia uses a mix of cheese and lemon rid for its filling.
Gnocchi
The word gnocchi literally means “little dumplings.” They are traditionally homemade from potatoes, but can also be made with semolina or wheat flour. The pasta noodles are boiled in salted water, and then they’re served with a sauce.
Manicotti
If you’re looking for a hearty, pasta-based dinner that you can make in no time at all, this traditional Italian recipe is perfect. The shells are stuffed with baby spinach, ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella cheese, then baked in a tomato-based sauce to create this delicious Italian pasta dish.
Chicken Cacciatore
This dish is a classic of Lombardy and one of the most popular dishes in Italy. It consists of cross-cut veal shanks, gremolata (a mixture of herbs and vegetables), white wine and broth.
It’s a stick-to-your-ribs Italian dish that pairs perfectly with a full-bodied red wine. If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding a jar of tomato paste or a little garlic powder to your Cacciatore for an extra layer of flavor.