Throughout history, Italians are well-known travelers, and wherever they go, they always bring their food with them.
Italians aren’t just known for their fine wines, but also their delicious dishes. Their food is considered one of the most popular cuisines in the world for many reasons. One of which is its intricate food preparation requiring craftsmanship and art.
Italians themselves are very critical when it comes to the ingredients they use. They don’t compromise quality. So each dish is made from the freshest ingredients available. This is what Italian cuisine is most known for across the globe. Want to know the most famous Italian dishes? We’ve listed out the best 5!
Pizza Napoletana
Italian cooking’s very essence can be summed up on how they make pizza. Even today, Italian restaurants preserved the traditional way of using a brick oven. This is very important for them, especially when making pizza.
Pizza Napoletana, in particular, is a national treasure in Italy. It’s under the protection of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana. Under the stated rule, authentic Neapolitan Pizza cannot be copied without the consent of its originators in Naples, Italy.
As a trademark of simplicity and artistry coming together, Pizza Napoletana only requires very few ingredients. It’s made from freshly made flatbread, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and extra virgin olive oil. These ingredients are sourced locally from the neighboring towns and farms of Naples. Ingredients sourced from other parts of Italy will void the authenticity of the pizza.
Lasagna
Lasagne in Italian, this classic pasta recipe is on everyone’s list of comfort food. The alternating layer of cheese, marinara sauce, and pasta sheets are just simply irresistible.
Lasagna has already incorporated different ways to prepare it. However, nothing compares to the traditional Lasagne Alla Bolognese. The traditional way of cooking lasagna also uses locally-sourced ingredients. For authentic lasagna, you can try one in Bologna, Italy. The traditional Italian ingredients used to make lasagna are Ragu, Bechamel, and Parmigiano cheese.
Gelato
Even though ice cream didn’t originate in Italy, Italians managed to perfect it. Historically, Italians enjoyed gelato way back in the Renaissance period.
Although there’s no clear evidence who made the first gelato, many suggest it was Bernardo Buntalenti, an architect from Florence. Some also suggest that it was alchemist Cosimo Ruggieri.
Nevertheless, gelato is something Italians should be proud of aside from pizza and pasta. True to its testament, there are countless gelateria around the world.
What makes gelato yummier than regular ice cream is its ingredients. Gelato is made with whole milk compared to ice cream which is dominantly cream-based. It has a smoother, creamier, and silkier texture than ice cream. It also contains less fat & less air.
Gelato connoisseurs suggest that the best makers can be found in Florence, Bologna, & Rome.
Spaghetti Carbonara
Carbonara is another classic Italian pasta dish that is derived from the word charcoal burner or Carbonaro in Latin. Historically, spaghetti carbonara is a staple meal among coal miners, thus the word carbonara was used.
The authentic spaghetti carbonara doesn’t contain cream at all. In fact, it’s a cardinal sin for Italian chefs to use the cream as the sauce for carbonara in Italy.
The authentic spaghetti carbonara sauce is made from fresh eggs, pork jowl or guanciale, pecorino cheese, and black pepper. These are all mixed together until a very smooth & creamy consistency is achieved. It is usually served with extra toppings like spinach, bacon, or grilled chicken bits. They say that the best carbonara is found in Rome.
Risotto
If China is the largest producer of rice in Asia (the world as well), Italy, meanwhile, is Europe’s No.1. With the abundance of rice, Italians have also perfected rice dishes such as Risotto. They may have a completely different way to cook rice, but they managed to pull off one delicious dish that’s very popular worldwide.
Risotto in general is creamy rice; it is a borderline between porridge & paella. The rice is cooked using a broth either from meat, vegetables, or fish until it reaches a porridge-like consistency. It’s then mixed with butter, parmesan cheese, white wine, and onion. It’s best paired with meat dishes.
Final Thought
There are a lot ofItalian dishesthat are worth mentioning in this post, but the list can go long. So, we made sure to give you the five most popular in the world that are all worth trying.
To wrap up, there’s more to Italian food than just pizza and pasta. Italian food is all about the culinary artistry and dedication of Italians. Because of it, they are able to produce mouthwatering dishes that are worth its recognition worldwide.
When you visit Italy, try spending your time trying its food. You can further appreciate its culture, tradition, and the dedication of Italians to their culinary craft.
If you’re craving any of the Italian dishes we’ve mentioned above, book a reservation atCaffe Positanonow.
We offer a mouthwatering menu of authentic & traditional Italian dishes at a very affordable price.
