National dishes of Italy: recipes with photos. National dishes of Italy

Traditional Italian dishes have long received worldwide recognition. And yet I would like to note that Italian food is not only pasta and pizza. National Italian dishes are not limited to tiramisu, lasagna and spaghetti. In our article we will talk about Italian cuisine, tell you about the most delicious dishes and simple recipes for preparing them.

Lasagna

Italian dishes, the recipes of which we want to consider in the article, have gained worldwide recognition due to their taste. One of the most famous is lasagna.

To prepare it you will need the following products:

1. Minced meat - 0.6 kg.
2. Butter - 70 g.
3. Bolognese (sauce) - 650 g.
4. Two tablespoons of olive oil.
5. Flour - 3 tbsp. l.
6. Milk - 760 ml.
7. Hard cheese - 0.7 kg.
8. Dry lasagna leaves - 10 pcs.

Italian dishes are not so difficult to prepare, so they can easily be made at home. The main thing is to find the necessary products or replace the missing ones with something acceptable.

In a saucepan you need to put butter and a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil. Gradually add flour and do not forget to stir constantly so that no lumps form. Now you can reduce the heat and simmer the mixture until you get a sour cream consistency.

Heat a clean frying pan, adding vegetable oil, and fry the minced meat in it. It is preferable to take a mixture of pork and veal. The minced meat must be fried until semi-cooked and Bolognese sauce must be poured into it, after which you can add pepper and salt. Italian dishes are prepared with spices.

In the meantime, turn on the oven and warm it up. Take a mold, grease it with butter, put a little bechamel sauce on the bottom, it should only lightly cover the bottom. Then add dry lasagna sheets (not boiled). Place a layer of minced meat on top and sprinkle it with grated cheese. And pour the bechamel sauce again. You can put it in as much as you see fit. It is simply difficult to imagine Italian dishes without all kinds of sauces and seasonings. Bechamel will add juiciness to the lasagna. Place another layer of sheets on top of the sauce. Add the sauce again and generously sprinkle grated cheese on top of the dish. Place the pan in the oven and bake for about half an hour. The good thing about Italian cuisine is that they cook quickly enough and are very filling.

Risotto

When considering Italian dishes (recipes are given in the article), it is simply impossible not to think about risotto. For cooking, we will prepare the products:

• Rice - 0.4 kg.
• Butter - half a pack.
• Two sweet peppers.
• One onion.
• A couple of cloves of garlic.
• Sherry - 120 ml.
• Vegetable broth - 1.6 l.
• Cream 35% - 120 ml.
• Salt.
• Ground black pepper.
• Thyme.

Melt the butter in a deep frying pan and fry the onion until translucent and soft. Next, pour in the rice and fry it for a few minutes, stirring constantly. Add chopped garlic, mix and simmer all ingredients. As soon as the garlic begins to release its aroma, you should pour sherry into the pan, mixing it with the products. Next, evaporate the alcohol over very low heat, stirring constantly.

As soon as only the aroma remains from the sherry, pour a third of the broth into the frying pan, mix the ingredients and cook the rice over low heat. The broth must be constantly added as it evaporates.

Fry finely chopped peppers in butter (butter) until soft. Then transfer the pepper to the risotto, add pepper, salt, and add the remaining broth. When the rice is ready, add cream to the pan, mix everything thoroughly until a creamy consistency is formed and turn off the heat. Risotto, like many Italian dishes, is served with herbs. Chopped thyme is sprinkled on top of the finished dish.

An Italian rice dish must be made with high-quality grains, otherwise the risotto can turn into mush. Therefore, when purchasing food, choose rice carefully, since the taste and consistency of the entire dish largely depends on its quality.

Spaghetti carbonara

Italian pasta dishes have become no less popular here than in their homeland. We suggest making spaghetti carbonara.

To do this, take the following products:

1. Spaghetti - 170 g.
2. Hard cheese - 75 g.
3. Pancetta - 125 g.
4. Two egg yolks.
5. Ground pepper.
6. Salt.

Boil the spaghetti in salted water. While the pasta is cooking, heat a frying pan and fry the pancetta in it (it should acquire a golden hue). In a small bowl, whisk two yolks and mix with grated cheese. Return the pan with the pancetta to the heat, add the broth that remains after cooking the pasta, add the spaghetti and wait. When the liquid boils away. Remove the dishes from the heat and put the cheese and yolks into it. Mix the mixture very quickly until the yolks thicken. If you think the sauce is a little thick, you can add a little more broth. At the end of cooking, add salt and pepper to taste.

Spaghetti amatriciana

Italian pasta dishes are an everyday food, but they are not just any pasta. During cooking, spices and grated cheese are used, thanks to which spaghetti turns into an amazingly delicious meal.

Ingredients:

• Spaghetti - 370 g.
• Bacon - 125 g.
• A few tablespoons of oil (olive).
• Garlic.
• One onion.
• Pelati tomatoes - 0.8 kg.
• Ground pepper.
• Grated Parmesan - 35 g.
• Chili flakes - half a teaspoon.
• Salt.

Heat olive oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat. Cut the bacon into strips and fry it until golden brown. Add chili and black pepper, mix the ingredients. Next, finely chop the garlic and onion, add them to the bacon, fry and don’t forget to stir. The onion should become transparent and soft.

Then put the tomatoes in the pan and mash them with a spatula. Cook the dish over low heat until the sauce thickens. In the meantime, boil the spaghetti: put the water on and throw the pasta into it as soon as it boils. Combine the finished pasta with the sauce and mix well. Add half a glass of water and continue cooking. If you think the sauce is too thick, you can add a little more water.

The pasta is sprinkled with cheese on top and only then served. Many Italian dishes are prepared using Parmesan or other hard cheeses. Pasta is no exception, which simply cannot be imagined without Parmesan.

Pizza Margherita: ingredients

There are other popular Italian dishes. Recipes with photos are given in the article. And now it’s simply impossible not to remember everyone’s favorite pizza. We offer you a recipe for Margherita pizza.

Ingredients:

• Flour - 1.9 kg.
• Mozzarella - 210 g.
• Tomato sauce - 130 g.
• Parmesan - 80 g.
• Basil - 60 g.
• Olive oil - 120 ml.
• Sugar - 15 g.
• Semola - 320 g.
• Salt.
• Dry yeast - 16 g.
• Water - 720 g.
• A kilogram of pelatti tomatoes.
• Milk - 210 ml.

Pizza recipe

Delicious Italian dishes have long been included in our menu. Perhaps the most popular of them is pizza, which all children adore. That’s why housewives most often prepare it. The recipes used in home practice are more adapted to our conditions and slightly simplified. But how is real Italian pizza prepared?

Let's start preparing the dish with the dough. Pour Italian flour (semola) and ordinary wheat into the mixer bowl. Also add sugar, salt and mix all ingredients. We dilute yeast in a glass of water. Knead the dough by adding half a liter of water to the flour. Then add milk and knead the dough until it becomes elastic. At the end of the kneading process, you should add fifty grams of olive oil. Cover the bowl with the dough with a towel or cling film and leave it to rest at room temperature. After an hour, knead it and put it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. And only after that you can work with him.

Now let's start preparing the tomato sauce. For this we need pelati tomatoes. They need to be crushed with a blender. Add olive oil, pepper, salt and chopped basil leaves to the sauce.

Roll out the dough into a layer and place it on the bottom of the mold, greased with olive oil. The workpiece must be left for some time. After this, turn on the oven and place the mold in it to dry the dough a little.

In the meantime, you can start preparing the filling. Cut the mozzarella into cubes and grate the parmesan. Spread the tomato sauce over the dried crust, lay out the mozzarella, and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Add basil leaves and sprinkle everything with oil (olive). Place the pizza in the oven for about five minutes. So the real Italian dish is ready.

Rice balls

Stuffed balls are another Italian rice dish. It will take us about two hours to prepare it.

Ingredients:

• Turkey breast - 120 g.
• Minced beef - 120 g.
• Celery stalk.
• Frozen or fresh green peas - 60 g.
• Bunch of basil.
• A bunch of parsley.
• Grated Parmesan - 60 g.
• Rice - 0.3 kg.
• Two tablespoons of tomato paste.
• Hot meat broth.
• Two eggs.
• Butter - 2 tbsp. l.
• Three tablespoons of olive oil.
• Two tablespoons of flour.
• A pinch of chili pepper.
• Breadcrumbs.
• One onion.
• A pinch of saffron.
• Black pepper, salt, bay leaf.

Italian dishes (recipes with photos are given in the article) are not only tasty, but also filling. But the stuffed balls also have an unusual appearance. To prepare them, chop half a bunch of parsley and onion. Celery and turkey breast must be cut into cubes.

Pour olive oil into the pan and add a spoonful of butter. Fry the onion in this mixture. Then add the minced meat and turkey breast, they also need to be fried. A little later, add parsley, celery, pepper, salt and green peas. Simmer the resulting mixture over low heat.

Place half a pan of water on the fire and boil the rice. During cooking, it must be constantly stirred so that the cereal does not burn. Before turning off the heat, you need to add saffron soaked in water. The rice should not be overcooked; it is better to remove it from the heat in advance. Add butter, grated Parmesan and one egg to it, mix everything thoroughly.

Chop the other half of the parsley and basil, add herbs to the filling.

Beat the egg in a bowl, adding pepper and salt. Divide all the rice into ten equal parts. From each we form a ball. Use your finger to make a hole in the ball into which we place the filling. Then we cover the hole with rice, roll the ball in flour, then in egg and breadcrumbs. Finished products must be fried in a deep fryer (you can use a pan with vegetable oil). It is advisable to place the balls on paper towels to remove excess fat. The finished dish is served with fresh bay leaves.

Original Italian dishes (their names, by the way, are often very pleasant to the ear) are prepared from products that cannot always be found here. Therefore, some components have to be replaced. Instead of Italian rice, you can take Mistral arborio. This product is of good quality and not very expensive. Italian cheese can be replaced with Lithuanian parmesan.

Baked pasta

Italian cuisine (photos of dishes are given in the article) is the most popular in the world. Of course, it gained fame thanks to pizza and pasta, but it has many more wonderful dishes in its arsenal. One of them includes pasta baked with tomatoes and cheese. To prepare this dish we will need:

1. Pasta - 0.3 kg.
2. A clove of garlic.
3. Cheese - 120 g.
4. Peppercorns.
5. One tomato.
6. Mayonnaise - 160 g.

For cooking you need to take Italian pasta. Having previously boiled them, they are laid out on the bottom of the mold. Thinly sliced ​​tomatoes are placed on top. Sprinkle the dish with grated cheese, add garlic and grease with mayonnaise. Place the pan in the oven and bake until done (10-20 minutes). It is recommended to serve the dish hot, garnished with herbs on top.

Italian noodles

Pasta dishes of various shapes and colors can only be found in Italy. The local population consumes incredible amounts of pasta, but still remains slim. The secret of this phenomenon is that local pasta is produced exclusively from durum wheat. But they simply don’t get better. Every self-respecting Italian housewife has her own original noodle recipes.

To prepare the dough we will need:

1. Flour - 0.5 kg.
2. Salt.
3. Vegetable oil.
4. Five eggs.

Pour the flour into a heap on the table, add salt, eggs, butter and a glass of water. Knead the dough for ten minutes, sometimes hitting it on the table. It should become smooth, elastic and not stick to your hands.

Roll the dough into a ball, wrap it in film and cover it with a pan. It should sit for about half an hour. After this, it can be rolled out and cut into noodles. For this purpose, knives of various shapes are sold in Italy, with the help of which housewives sometimes cut out figured products. Dry the finished pasta on a towel.

Homemade noodles are dyed in different colors. Colored pasta is very popular in Italy. To make it, all kinds of dyes are used, which are added to the dough at the kneading stage.

Ravioli

Ravioli is an incredibly popular dish in Italy. As a rule, it is made with meat filling. But it is also possible to use mushrooms. To prepare the filling, they are cut and fried with shallots, adding garlic and parsley.

Ravioli stuffed with cheese and spinach leaves or with cottage cheese and spices are delicious.

In Italy, ravioli is either a type of pasta or small dumplings. In addition, the Italian cuisine of different regions also includes dumplings such as agnolini, agnolotti, and tortellini. Each region prepares them differently. But ravioli is consumed all over the country. They are prepared with different fillings, and then fried or boiled, adding olives and grated cheese. Fried ravioli is added to soups or broths.

Features of Italian cuisine

Italian cuisine (recipes are given in the article) are real works of art, prepared by the hands of masters of their craft. All Italians are excellent cooks, and men are often superior to women in their skill. Each region of the country has its own secrets and cooking features. Many Italian dishes, the names of which we mentioned in the article, are prepared using the following products: olive oil, tomatoes, carrots, onions, cabbage, celery, potatoes, herbs. Italians make extensive use of rice and pasta, commonly referred to here as “pasta.” They are served with mussels, oysters, meat, mushrooms and shrimp.

Italy is the birthplace of the world's most famous cheeses: mascarpone, mozzarella, Parmesan, Gorgonzola and many others. All Italian dishes (photos of the most popular ones are given in the article) are prepared on their basis. In general, cheese can be called an important component of all the cuisines of this stunning country. It gives dishes a unique taste and aroma.

No less popular in Italy is tomato sauce, which is cooked over very low heat with the addition of basil and marjoram. Italian cuisine uses an incredible amount of all kinds of spices: rosemary, oregano, sage, cumin, red pepper and many others. They give dishes a unique taste and aroma.

An indispensable product of Italian cuisine is olive oil. They fry with it and dress salads with it. Unlike us, Italians do not use sunflower oil at all in everyday life. They are considered true masters in the production of sausages, hams and hams. Moreover, such products can boast of high quality and natural composition.

Pasta-based dishes take first place in the country in popularity. Pasta is served with all kinds of sauces, the recipes for which are so numerous that it is difficult to count them. We have adopted one of the types of Italian pasta - spaghetti. No less popular are small ravioli, served in tomato sauce with cheese.

Italian dishes are incredibly delicious. They are all very filling. It is difficult to imagine that you will order food at a restaurant and remain hungry, as this is simply impossible.

Instead of an afterword

Food is an important part of people's daily lives and is part of a country's culture. And Italians can be called real gourmets who know a lot about this matter. It’s not for nothing that Italian dishes are so popular all over the world. In any country you can find restaurants and establishments specializing in preparing such food. Italian cafes are popular even in Asian countries. The national cuisine of Italy has become so widespread thanks to the incredible taste and richness of its aromatic dishes.

Italian cuisine is the most widespread and consumed in the world. It gained its championship primarily thanks to such dishes as pasta and pizza. Various variations of these dishes are prepared in almost all countries of the world. Getting closer to the gastronomy of Italy, you discover many unique regional recipes, the main components of which are pasta, vegetables, meat, fish, seafood, olive oil, cheeses, wine and herbs (especially basil).

Let's remember the dishes of Italian cuisine in more detail...

The Roman Empire was famous for its feasts, which included a huge variety of dishes. Since those times, the tradition of cooking meat in its natural form has been preserved in Italy. For example, if Italians prepare a meat stew, they quite often do not cut the meat into small pieces, but stew the entire piece.

During the Middle Ages, Italian cuisine became more refined. The fish table has become more varied. In addition to Mediterranean fish, Italian residents began to use crabs, shellfish, cuttlefish, shrimp, lobsters and lobsters in cooking.

During the Renaissance, cooking in Italy was elevated to the rank of art. In the 16th century, a complex cookbook was published by Vatican librarian Bartolomeo Sacchi entitled On True Pleasures and Well-Being. The publication was reprinted 6 times, it was very popular among the people of Italy. Subsequently, schools teaching culinary skills began to open in Florence.

Much of what the world knows as Italian food comes from the southern part of Italy. Northern Italy was wealthier than the rest of the country. Because of this, great differences arose between the northern and southern cuisines of Italy. The southern part of the country was poor, so people had to use nutritious and inexpensive products in cooking. While in the north they were creating fresh pasta from cream and eggs, in the south they were perfecting the craft of making dry pasta and pasta.

Italian cuisine is considered one of the best in the world, but, for example, unlike French, it is more specific. One of its main advantages is the seasonality of the products used.

The main ingredients of Italian dishes are dough, tomatoes, garlic, capsicum, olive oil, cabbage, carrots, onions, celery, potatoes, salads, asparagus, herbs and a lot of cheese. Rice is also popular, served with meat, shrimp, oysters, mushrooms and so on.

Italy is the birthplace of Parmesan, Gorgonzola, mozzarella, mascarpone and others. Cheese is the most important component of an Italian dish; it is added grated or cut into small pieces.

Almost no Italian dish is complete without olive oil. It is used for frying, preparing various seasonings, and also adding to salads. Interestingly, Italian cuisine does not use sunflower oil: either extra-virgin olive oil or lard.

Tomato sauce is very popular in Italy. It is usually simmered over low heat for a long time, and then seasonings such as basil and marjoram are added. In general, a lot of different spices are used in Italian cooking: rosemary, oregano, sage, cumin and others. Thanks to them, dishes acquire a unique taste.

Each region of Italy has its own customs that shape the culture of cooking. Some of the main factors influencing the cuisine of a particular region of the country are climate, lifestyle and products produced by local residents.

The regions of Molise and Abruzzo are famous for their cheese and smoked meats. Basilicata's cuisine includes beef dishes, rich soups and other hearty dishes. Calabrian, Ligurian and Apulian dishes are based on fish and seafood. In addition, a huge amount of vegetables and fruits grow in Calibria.

The birthplace of the world famous Italian dish - pizza - is the capital of Campania - Naples. Hearty, seasoned stews and fruit desserts are also popular here.

Parmesan, Parma ham, balsamic vinegar and mortadella come from Emilia Romagna. And the cuisine of the Lazio region, of which Rome is the capital, is characterized by the consumption of veal and lamb.

The cuisines of the regions of Lombardy and Piedmont typically use rice dishes, polenta and gnocchi. Piedmont is also known to produce the best white truffles.

Tuscan fertile lands provide excellent fruits and vegetables, as well as pasture for livestock. Beef, pork and game dishes are popular here.

The main role in the cuisine of Sardinia goes to eel, tuna, lobster, and the traditional holiday dish is a young pig roasted on a spit. Dishes of Sicily combine elements of Italian, Arabic, Greek and Spanish cuisines. And if you briefly describe Sicilian cuisine, it would be three words: pasta, fish, sweets. Traditional dishes of the Trentino-Alto Adige region are dumplings and smoked sausages. Winemaking is also done here.

Umbria supplies quality olive oil and black truffles. Dishes in this region are prepared from pork, lamb, game and river fish. Veneto and Friuli are famous for their fish dishes, as well as polenta and risotto, while the main products of the Marche region are pork, pasta and olives.

In first place in popularity in Italy are a variety of pasta dishes, which differ in shape, quality and taste. These dishes are called in one word - pasta. It is usually seasoned with one of the many Italian sauces. There are long “spaghetti”, medium-sized “Maccheroni”, short “bucatini”, thin “vermicelli” and very thin “cappellini”. Real pasta is made from durum wheat.

“Pasta” includes dishes such as pasta, gnoczi (small dumplings), spaghetti, ravioli, tagliatelle (a type of noodle). All these dishes are very tasty and are eaten with tomato sauce. Fritto de pesce (fish fried in oil) is considered the most delicious and at the same time uncomplicated fish dish.

Pizza is also very popular, not only in Italy, but all over the world. Pizza is prepared in special restaurants - pizzerias, but it can also be ordered in a regular restaurant.

Another traditional Italian dish is risotto - rice pilaf with ham, cheese, onions, mushrooms and shrimp. But the composition may vary.

Italians eat wheat bread. It is prepared and sold in small private bakeries called paneficcio.

No less famous is carpaccio, which is pieces of beef fillet cooked with herbs and spices and seasoned with olive oil. This dish is served either as an appetizer or as a main course.

The French traveler de Brosse, traveling through Italy, wrote to his friends about chicken fricassis in 1739. He outlined the recipe for this dish in some detail: “first prepare the onion broth in a large flat bowl, then add the cream sauce and immerse the young stewed chickens in it. This dish is topped with water prepared from an infusion of orange flowers and served hot.” Next, de Brosse describes the extraordinary taste of this dish. Admiring this dish, he advises you to try cooking it to see for yourself the unique taste. It should be noted that there were other travelers who specifically traveled around Italy in search of unusual recipes.

Soups are also popular in Italy. The word soup itself has Italian roots. The most unusual soups include “Pavesa” and “Neapolitan offal”. Pavesa soup is made from toasted white bread and eggs. They are filled with broth and sprinkled with grated cheese on top. “Neapolitan giblets” are made from giblets, various vegetables and cheese. The soup turns out very tasty and satisfying. Undoubtedly, there are many more dishes in Italian cuisine. Above, only a few of them were briefly described, which seemed interesting to us, and at the same time, they are not difficult to prepare at home. Along with its unusual cuisine, Italy has a very interesting history. And often it is connected with cooking. Below we will tell you unusual cases and interesting facts about the history of Italian cooking.

Determining when and in which house a holiday in a poor Sicilian village is not at all difficult. As you know, on a holiday, all the best that the family has is put on the table. And the Sicilian poor peasant always fries schnitzel on holiday, the aroma of which quickly spreads throughout the village and means that the holiday will be successful and fun. Pork schnitzel is rubbed with salt, pepper, finely chopped onion and other seasonings and fried. Then the tomatoes are fried separately and the schnitzel is placed on them. The side dish is usually fluffy rice.

There are many versions about the origin of pasta. According to one of them, the name of this dish was given by a cardinal. When he first saw and tasted pasta, he exclaimed: “Oh, ma caroni!” - which translated from Italian means “Oh, how sweet!” According to another version, the name belongs to the Greeks, who, when encountering something unusual in the cities of Southern Italy, called it “maccherone”. In literature, pasta is mentioned for the first time in the Decameron. Cooking pasta is a real art. They should only be immersed in boiling water. You need to discard the pasta in a colander when it is still a little hard. After this, pour HOT water over it. Let the water drain and place on plates. The pasta is ready. The best sauce for pasta is the authentic Italian sauce "Salsa di pomodoro".

Cooking in Italy was elevated to the rank of art during the Renaissance. Bartolomeo Sacchi (Platinum), the Vatican librarian, compiled an elaborate cookbook entitled De Honesta Valuptate ac Valetudine (On True Pleasures and Well-Being); over three decades, the book went through six editions. Florentine merchants spent large sums establishing schools of culinary arts.

When Catherine de Medici, a great gourmet, married the French king Henry II, she took an Italian chef with her. Before this, French cuisine did not exist. Even the gastronomic encyclopedia (Larousse Gastronomique) calls Italy the birthplace of national cuisine.

The first victims of Italian cuisine were the French, so convinced of their influence on the cuisine of Northern Italy bordering France that traditional Italian pastas managed to take a place almost unnoticed by them on the menu of a huge number of French restaurants. The United States has added the fastest-to-cook Italian dish to its universal fast food repertoire: pizza. It must be admitted that the Italians themselves are no longer happy about this: it took the Americans only a few years to disfigure a century-old recipe with mayonnaise. To say that pastas are recognized as the hallmark of Italian cuisine is to say nothing. Archaeologists found the first tools for producing and cooking pastes in Etruscan graves. And in 1000 AD, the patriarchal chef Martin Corno had already written the book “Culinary Art of Sicilian Vermicelli and Pasta.” It is enough to know that pasta in Italian is not only the name of pasta, but also a synonym for the word “food” in general. So asking someone to cook something to eat at the same time sounds like “give me some pasta”!

Italian cuisine has many advantages. Among them are bright, unusual combinations of products, simplicity, and loyalty to tradition, but the main thing is that Italian cuisine is not overloaded with meanings, which makes it accessible and understandable to everyone. Frankly, I can’t even imagine a person who might not like Italian cuisine, with its bright Mediterranean flavors and ability to squeeze the most out of seemingly simple products. Along with the French one, it has made a huge contribution to the formation of the world culinary heritage, and you can now find an Italian restaurant or a modest pizzeria anywhere in the world.

In this collection, I decided to collect 10 of my favorite Italian recipes, and I had to rack my brain wondering which ones to include in this list and which ones to cross off. As a result, the list was still incomplete, because it did not include a single recipe for risotto or pizza, there are no desserts or fish dishes, but there are three classic pasta recipes and several vegetable hits. Nevertheless, I hope that you will appreciate this collection of recipes, despite some of its one-sidedness, because Italy is invariably delicious - in any form and in any execution!

Italian cuisine or national cuisine of Italy- This is one of those cuisines that makes up the culinary European family or, as it is otherwise called, Mediterranean cuisine. It is special in the variety of its dishes, which have a regional division (this means that the recipes of different regions of this country are somewhat different, although, of course, there are still common features).

If we turn to history, we will learn many interesting facts about Italian cuisine. For example, it is not inferior in its characteristics to exquisite French cuisine, because it is, in fact, its ancestor. It is a well-known fact that Emperor Francis I was partial to Italian cuisine and brought it to his country. It began to spread everywhere after the wedding of the son of this august person with Catherine de Medici, which took place in 1533.

As we said earlier, traditional Italian cuisine varies in its dishes from region to region, but there are still some common features:

Pizza is considered the most famous and popular Italian dish, although this is not entirely true. In fact, this dish, which is a flatbread made from unripe wheat or millet with tomatoes and cheese, was prepared in Naples. Thus, pizza belongs to Neapolitan cuisine. In this part of Italy the previously mentioned dish was a simple poor man's food. It gained popularity after 1945 thanks to American soldiers who liked the poor peasant’s dish.

It is worth noting the fact that classic Italian cuisine for gourmets from all over the world is becoming more popular every day. Therefore, it is not surprising that the names of traditional dishes in Italy are known and recognizable. You could even say that they are well known. Surely, you have heard more than once about pasta, spaghetti, risotto, ciabatta, calzone and many other dishes of this country. They are not just tasty, but also healthy! Some even believe that eating traditional Italian food will help you lose weight. We will not confirm the veracity of this fact, but such a theory has a right to exist!

In order to better understand the features of Italian cuisine, let's figure out what constitutes breakfast, lunch and dinner for an Italian. So, in the morning they traditionally drink a cup of coffee with sweet pastries, children eat almost the same thing, although instead of coffee they drink juice, drinks or milk. In general, breakfast for an Italian is an ordinary “snack”. Lunch is represented by more substantial food. It consists of an appetizer, for example, some kind of vegetable salad, a first course, a main (second) course, as well as a dessert, invariably served with a cup of coffee. Of course, not all Italians eat so heavily at lunch. It all depends on tastes; some dishes may be excluded, or the lunch menu, on the contrary, may consist of more dishes. Dinner usually consists of one dish. This is either soup or some kind of meat/fish dish.

In order to experience, without a doubt, delicious Italian cuisine, it is not at all necessary to go to Italy or go to a cafe/restaurant of the national cuisine of this country! All dishes can be prepared at home and this should not cause any difficulties. Italian cuisine is not so complicated, especially if you know the secrets and tricks in preparing traditional national dishes. You can recognize them from the photo recipes that are given on our website. All of them are supplied with the most detailed instructions. In addition, all recipes contain step-by-step photographs.

So go for it, we are sure that everything will definitely work out for you!!! We also hope that the question: what to cook or what to try in relation to the national cuisine of Italy will not remain unanswered, because we are trying to collect for you a real “culinary treasury” full of simple and tasty recipes!

This is an article with photos about Italian dishes that you must definitely eat in Italy. Italian cuisine is considered some of the best in the world, but you need to know what to choose from the menu.

After a couple of days in Italy, stuffed with pizza, pasta and panini, I ran into a problem. What exactly should you order in Italian restaurants so as not to be disappointed (or God forbid you lose weight :)) during your 3 weeks of vacation?

My dear readers, friends and subscribers on social media came to the rescue. networks who generously shared their advice, for which we thank them very much. Below is a jointly compiled list of Italian dishes, as well as the average price of food in Italian establishments. I tried 90% of the list and left 10% for next time.

Seafood in Italy

• Tomato mussel soup(Zuppa di cozze al pomodoro) - the best thing I had the opportunity to eat in Italy. I also ate Sicilian-style mussels and was not delighted. It all depends on the restaurant. Price 8-13€

• King prawns grilled or in sauces (Gamberoni alla griglia). The most delicious shrimp were in. Price 10-15€

• Swordfish in Sicilian style with tomatoes (Pesce spada alla siciliana). Price 12-13€

• Swordfish Grilled(Pesce spada alla griglia). Price 12-13€

• Grilled Dorado(Dorado Griglio). Price 50-60€ for 1 kg. Dorado is worth on the market 15€ per kg .

• Octopus in different variations (Polpo). For example, Sicilian-style octopus with garlic and thyme. “Nothing tastier has yet been invented in Mediterranean cuisine,” is a quote from traveler and gourmet Sergei Kormilitsyn. 12-18€ for a hot dish

• Octopus with potatoes(Polpo con patate) is a specialty of the Amalfi Coast. Keep in mind that octopus is often served as a cold appetizer in Sicily and southern Italy. Price 7 —8€

• Shrimp cocktail(Сocktail di gamberi). Popular cold appetizer. Not for everyone. Served in a glass with shrimp mixed with salad and sauce. If you spread shrimp on bread, it turns out delicious. 7-10€

Other Italian dishes

• Eggplant, baked with tomatoes, mozzarella and parmesan (Melanzane alla parmigiana)

• Grilled vegetables(Verdure alla griglia) - always delicious. Price 6€

• Lamb meat on skewers(Arrosticini di pecora). This dish is prepared only in the Abruzzo region and nowhere else. To prepare this lamb kebab in the Marche region, you had to order the meat online from Abruzzo. I haven't eaten the lamb, but the guys said it was delicious.

• Spaghetti with clams and parsley (Spaghetti con le vongole). Friends prepared this dish from shellfish collected on the seashore near their house. You need to collect shellfish early in the morning (at 6-7 o'clock) in order to get ahead of other fishermen. 12-15€

• Carne cruda(Сarne cruda) - raw beef of a certain breed of bulls, a minimum of spices. Originally from Piedmont. Have not tried. 15-20€

• Pizza(Pizza) - real pizza is cooked in a charcoal oven. We can talk about pizza for a long time. From 2€ for a piece in a street eatery up to 12€ for pizza with seafood in a restaurant.

• Paste(Pasta) is a traditional dish of Italian cuisine. Pasta with various sauces. For our taste, pasta in Italy is undercooked. They specially cook the pasta for a very short time. The version of pasta that is served in our restaurants will be tasteless and overcooked for an Italian. 7-15€

Be sure to read mine, where I tell you how much a vacation in this delicious and warm country will cost

• Minestroni(Minestrone) - vegetable soup

• Panini(Panini) - Italian sandwich made from flat white wheat bread, price 5€

• Risotto(Risotto) - a rice dish. Prepared with seafood, meat, vegetables. 8-13€

• Lasagna(Lasagne) is a popular Italian dish made from flat sheets of pasta with filling, 9-12€

• Ravioli(Ravioli) is an Italian analogue of dumplings made from filled pasta sheets. Restaurants often serve store-bought ravioli - they are mediocre. When they twist it themselves by hand, it turns out very tasty.

• Polenta(Polenta) - porridge made from corn flour

• Caprese(Caprese) - Italian appetizer made from tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and olive oil

• Gnocchi(Gnocchi) - Italian dumplings

• Provola and Caciocavallo cheeses

Italian desserts

Desserts and sweets are usually sold in cafes or establishments called Pasticceria

• Tortuffa(Tortuffa) - a divinely delicious scoop of ice cream with chocolate inside. It's better not to order chocolate ice cream because the chocolate ice cream is too sweet. Costs 4-5€

• Granita(Granita) - Sicilian dessert. Crushed ice with sugar syrup of different colors and flavors. Price 3-4€

• Cannoli(Cannoli) is a Sicilian dessert. A waffle tube filled with mascarpone cheese, whipped cottage cheese or ricotta with added syrups or wine. Sold everywhere

• Tiramisu(Tiramisù) is the cake of Italian students because it does not need to be baked. Made from savoiardi biscuits, mascarpone cheese, coffee, eggs and sugar. I thought that I had eaten Tiramisu many times, but it turned out that before my trip to Italy I had never tried Tiramisu.

• Ice cream(Gelate) sold at Gelateria - from 1€ for the ball. On average - 2 € for a small box and 4-5€ for a big one. On tourist streets they ask for 4-5€ for one small ball.

• Coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee! Even if you don't drink coffee, it's worth a try. 1-4€, average 2€

Where to eat in Italy?

Establishments in Italy are divided into several types:

• Ristorante— high prices and level of service.

• Trattoria- often this is a family establishment with a homely atmosphere, a regular clientele and a menu in Italian. Prices in trattorias are lower than in restaurants.

• Taverna is a tavern where you can not only drink, but also eat.

• Osteria- also a simpler establishment with food and wine.

• Pizzeria— usually there are only pizza and appetizers on the menu, and less often other dishes.

• Gelateria— they sell ice cream there

• Pasticceria— cakes, pastries and desserts are sold here

Where can I buy products in Italy?

There are many chain supermarkets in Italy: Lidl, Auchan, Carrefour and others. Also, in every town, even the smallest one, there will definitely be a small Supermercado, where essential and essential products are sold at inflated prices.

If you want to cook your own food, you can also buy food in Italy in special shops. I don’t know if they exist in the north, but they are still popular in the south of Italy. We mostly rented apartments with a kitchen and sometimes cooked our own meals.

• Macelleria- Butcher shop

• Pescheria or Mercato del pesce— a store or market with seafood. Markets are usually open in the morning

• Panificio- bakery

What do you need to know before going to an Italian restaurant in Italy?

• In Italy, expensive does not = tasty. More often it's the other way around. If possible, always ask locals where they eat and go to local establishments.

• If you want to have a normal tasty meal in Italy, it is better to learn the names of the main dishes and products in Italian.

• Cafes and restaurants that have menus in English or Russian are aimed at tourists. There's a good chance the food there is so-so.

• We encountered that the prices on the menu in Italian were lower than for the same dishes on the menu in English.

• Check the final invoice amount. There was a precedent when they added a couple of euros to the price indicated on the menu. When the error was pointed out to the waitress, the money was returned. It's a small thing, but still unpleasant.

• In some restaurants, the amount of the bill depends not only on what exactly you ate, but also on where exactly you sat: at the bar, at a table by the window, on the terrace. It's rather rare, but it may happen that breakfast will cost as much as a full lunch due to the fact that your table had a good view.

• If you are served palm oil sticks, popular in Italy, before eating, do not rush to eat them. This is not Mexico, where they give free tacos, or even Georgia with its pita bread at the expense of the establishment. Once, to celebrate, we ate one stick each, each cost 3€ .

• Bread is often served with meals. Sometimes they take money for it, sometimes they don’t. The Italians themselves pour olive oil on their bread (it is always present on the table) - it tastes better.

• Restaurants also charge for water 2-3€ , but they can bring it without asking.

• Drinks in restaurants cost 2-4€ for a small can of cola or beer, 2-3€ for a bottle of water.

• Tips in Italy are included in the bill in most restaurants and cafes and amount to 10% of the amount

• If you want to eat in a small town, be prepared for the fact that most establishments are open from 12.00 to 14.00, after which they close for a siesta from 14.30 to 18.00, then open until 21-22 hours. It is not easy to find an establishment that is open in the middle of the night. Italians have lunch strictly from 13.00 to 14.30, and have dinner only in the evening, so if the city is unpopular among tourists, restaurants and cafes will be closed for several hours during the day in 90% of cases.

• Italians drink coffee around the clock, but cappuccino only in the morning. If you plan to pretend to be a local, don’t drink cappuccino during the day and evening - sleep yourself off :)

Menu in Italian restaurants

The menu in Italian restaurants usually consists of several sections.