Must Try Italian Dishes
Italian cuisine is a prominent part of Italian culture. The choice of dishes that end up on an Italian table depends not only on the season but also on geography. For example, tigella is typical for Bologna, while canederli are served in Bolzano. However, despite such a vast variety of choices, there are some dishes that are so common that you simply cannot miss them! Here’s a list of five delicious must-try Italian foods. Buon appetito!
Risotto
Risotto is a rice-based meal which emerged in northern Italy but is passionately loved all across the country. Rice is usually complemented with another ingredient, the choice of which heavily depends on the season of the year and location. In the south, the most popular risotto is with seafood, and in the north, it will be served with mushrooms. In April, one can’t make a step without bumping into asparagus risotto, while in September pumpkin risotto is everywhere.
Bruschetta
Do you think that a small grilled piece of bread with basil and tomatoes isn’t much to mention? Oh, you know nothing about Italians then! They can easily turn such a simple dish into a piece of art. Bruschetta is an appetizer that appeared as a poor peasant food in Naples and can now be found in every house, bar, or restaurant around Italy. It is usually served with a drink (aperitivo) or before the main course. By the way, if you don’t feel like sticking to a classic tomato version, feel free to try bruschetta with mozzarella, olives, or ham. Mmm…
Frittata
Frittata is when you take an omelet and add to it everything that you have in your fridge. Just kidding) Well, not entirely kidding. Italians do like to use a little bit of everything as a filling – ham, cheese, and vegetables, such as zucchini. Very tasty!
Cannoli
Cannoli is a real masterpiece that originated in Sicily. It is very easy to make – just fill a small tube made of dough with sweet ricotta based cheese. Then it’s covered with sugar powder and decorated with candied fruits. It’s amazingly tasty. And amazingly full of calories. But nevertheless, do try it when you are in Italy!
Torrone
Classic torrone is a mixture of honey, sugar, egg white, and nuts, usually almonds. One can bump into it in Italian supermarkets and on the Christmas markets. There are two types of torrone – soft and hard, and be careful to not damage your teeth when you pick a hard one! The best thing about torrone is the variety of tastes. Contemporary Italian pastry chefs make it with chocolate, liqueur, praline and puffed rice. So if you travel to Italy around Christmas, try them all!
