Italian cuisine is one of the oldest and most influential in the world. It gave us the wonders of pizza, it made us aware of the brilliance of pasta and so many more Italian dishes to die for. So here are some of them that you simply have to try.Â
As I prepare my impending vacation to Italy, I find myself dreaming of the food, more than anything. The only time I’ve spent in Italy so far has been one hour of transfer between flights on the Rome airport. But I am so excited to check out some dishes right there, in their place of birth. So what are the Italian dishes I am most dying to try soon enough? Here is a list that I had a hard time compiling because it’s so hard to choose between the dishes!
7 Italian dishes to give you a taste of Italy
1. Double cheese polenta
You can prepare polenta not just as a porridge. Here is just one of the many alternatives. Let it cool, cut it into different shapes and bake it together with feta. But this wouldn’t be cheesy enough for us, so make it extra-cheesy by adding parmesan on top. Serve it as is or as a side dish. And although cold, reheated, or grilled is also OK, we think eating it warm is much better.
2. Homemade gnocchi
Italy has blessed us with some of the most delicious ingredients in the world. And this is one of our favorites: gnocchi! But, instead of buying them from the grocery store, we’ve decided to make them at home. Next, we’ve browned them in the skillet with the help of a bit of butter and a small hint of sage.
3. Caprese salad
Fresh mozzarella has a soft texture and a delicate flavor. It’s not mandatory to use both ovoline and perline mozzarella for the salad, but they look nice on the plate. Still, we suggest to combine those two mozzarella types and serve it when you feel the need to pamper yourself.
4. Anchovy and spinach cannelloni
With this hearty, cheesy, and creamy cannelloni pasta you must give special attention to the stuffing. Use spinach and make it extra-cheesy with feta and parmesan. Give it extra-flavor with garlic, oregano, and nutmeg. Top with a tasty anchovy and parmesan mixture. For an even tangier touch, lay the tubes on a bed of canned tomatoes.
5. Creamy seafood risotto
Risotto is one of the staples of Italian cuisine, and seafood risotto is undoubtedly the best of them all. That is why we invite you to cook it tonight. To give it the best flavor, we’ve cooked it in a generous amount of butter, added some fennel, and added the freshest shrimp and mussels we could find.
6. Spaghetti all’Amatriciana
Amatriciana is an Italian pasta sauce consisting of pancetta, tomato sauce, onion, and pecorino cheese. But, if you can’t find those specific ingredients at the grocery store, we have the perfect substitutes for you. Use bacon and parmesan and you surely won’t mind the result. You will absolutely love it!
7. Olive oil and garlic focaccia
When making focaccia, the process is quite similar to making pizza crust. Only you don’t have to worry about toppings. So, for the crust, just bake a dough made with flour, yeast, olive oil, water, and salt. If you want, you can also include 2 onions in the equation. As a final step, coat the crusts with a mixture of garlic, olive oil, salt, and rosemary.
Please offer more pasta & seafood recipes / cooking w/wine & alfredo such as fruita di mare.
Will do.