The cuisine of Italy - Europe

Europe Italy IT
Abruzzo Valled'Aosta Puglia Basilicata Calabria Campania Emilia-Romagna Friuli-VeneziaGiulia Lazio Liguria Lombardia Marche Molise Piemonte Sardegna Sicilia Trentino-AltoAdige Toscana Umbria Veneto

The foods of Italy

While many countries have local culinary styles that differ from region to region, in Italy these differences are much more pronounced. This is not surprising considering the shape of the country – long and narrow, surrounded by the sea and with big mountains in the North.
Add to that the fact that Italy became a unified nation only in 1861, after having mainly been a confederation of states for the previous thousand of years, and this diversity becomes even more obvious.
The Italian menu is typically structured in much the same way all over Italy, with an antipasto, primo, secondo and dessert.
Typical Italian foods and dishes include assorted appetizers (antipasti misti), all types of pasta, risotto and pizza, soups (minestroni and zuppe) and delicious meat and fish dishes.
The main regional differences are in the sources of carbohydrates, the origin of the proteins and the choice of vegetables or contorni (side dishes).
Italy - See the recipes

Appetizer recipes

Asparagus mimosa Baked goat cheese with salad greens Bruschetta orzo salad Caprese salad Carrot gnocchi Cheese tart with artichoke hearts Cold broccoli soup Eggplant and tomato with chevre Eggplant caponata Eggplant caviar Flatbread pizzas Goat cheese and sun-dried tomato toasts Grilled tomatoes kebabs Orzo with wild mushrooms Parmesan and thyme crackers Parmesan sage polenta sticks Polenta fries Pumpkin and sweet garlic custards Roasted tomatoes Roasted tomatoes and red peppers Sicilian arancini Stuffed tomatoes with mussels Summer salad Tomato-feta phyllo kisses

Main recipes

Asparagus mimosa Asparagus with cream cheese and prosciutto Asparagus with Parma ham and roasted pepper coulis Baked carrot terrine Baked polenta with fontina and gorgonzola Baked salmon fillet with basil sauce Balsamic potato salad Bowtie pasta with shrimp and asparagus Braised salmon steaks with fennel and thyme Brunch strata with crabmeat and asparagus Bruschetta orzo salad Cacio e pepe pasta Cajun salmon fillet grenobloise with angel hair pasta Calzones Campanelle pasta with hen of the woods mushrooms Cannellonis Caprese pasta salad Carrot gnocchi Cauliflower and pasta Chicken breasts in vermouth Chicken breasts parma Chicken breasts veronique Chicken primavera Chicken provencale Chicken salad with pasta and asparagus Chicken with endive radicchio and balsamic vinegar glaze Chicken with portobello mushroom sauce Crown roast of lamb in a parmesan-sage crust Curried mussel salad with tiny pasta Eggplant meatballs in marinara Fall greens with walnuts feta and walnut vinaigrette Fettuccini primavera and pesto dressing Frittata Garlic mussels with pasta and cherry tomatoes Gnocchi alla romana Gnocchi with green chive sauce Gnocchi with spinach and ricotta Grilled bruschetta chicken Grilled chicken and vegetable pasta salad Grilled chicken pesto Grilled salmon fillets with sun-dried tomatoes Homemade pizza dough Lasagna Lemon chicken breast Lemon chicken cutlets Linguine alla carbonara Linguine primavera Mediterranean farro salad Minestrone with cabbage and spinach Mussels and spaghetti Mussels marinara with linguine Neapolitan pizza for a home kitchen Nicoise orzo salad Onion and cheese frittata Orecchiette with shiitake mushroom sauce Orzo pilaf with green onions Orzo salad with lemon and herb Panettone Panzanella salad Parmesan and basil chicken salad Parmesan polenta soufflé Pasta and tuna with caper dressing Pasta e fagioli with pesto and butternut squash Pasta fagioli Pasta roll with three cheese Pasta salad in parmesan baskets Pasta with summer vegetables Penne in cream sauce and sausage Pissaladière Provençale Pizza margherita Polenta a la romaine Pork chops parmigiana Potato gnocchi -gnocchi di patate Potato gnocchi with lobster Rack of lamb with mushroom crust Risotto with mushrooms asparagus and spring peas Roast tomato tart Roasted salmon with white beans tomato and spinach Roasted tomato caprese salad Rollatines of chicken Rosemary chicken salad Rosemary-roasted chicken with potatoes and fennel Rotolo di spinaci - spinach and ricotta lasagne roll-ups San remo pasta salad Shrimp scampi Shrimp-tortellini pesto Silk handkerchiefs with pesto Soft potato ravioli with truffle pan sauce Soufflé renversé Spaghetti bake Spaghetti squash pesto with tomatoes Spaghetti with creamy garlic and leeks Spinach and pasta salad Spring green risotto Striped bass italienne Stuffed chicken breasts Stuffed pork chops with polenta and tomatoes Summer pasta vegetable salad Summer squash skins with garlic bread crumbs The pasta salad Tomato and Seafood Penne Tomato pie with polenta crust Tomato-basil tortellini Tomatoes stuffed with goat cheese Tri-color salad Tuscan soup Vegetable lasagna Vegetarian minestrone

Side dishes recipes

Asparagus mimosa Beet with frizzled leek and gorgonzola crostini Broccoli au gratin Broccoli rabe with parmesan cheese Broccoli salad Celery root and mashed potatoes Creamed spinach Creamed spinach with mushrooms Creamy polenta with gorgonzola Eggplant soufflé Fried green tomatoes Garlic roasted potatoes Onion parmesan gratin Orzo salad with lemon and herb Pesto Roasted tomato caprese salad Soft polenta Spring green risotto Summer salad Sweet onion risotto cakes Sweet potato gnocchi with sage and brown butter Tomato aspic Vegetable and herb orzo salad Zucchini carpaccio salad

Dessert recipes

Almond sherry ice cream with honeyed figs Apricot tart Baked alaska snow balls Bavarois turinoise Bomba italian doughnuts Candied grapefruit peel Caramelized figs with fudge sauce Chocolate hazelnut cheesecake Chocolate raspberry ice cream Chocolate-mocha soufflé Chocolate-orange sorbet Coconut-almond bars Coffee custards Fruit sorbet Lemon cream tart Lemon custard Lemon krumkake Lemon mousse Lemon pudding cake Lemon sorbet in lemon shells Lemon tart #2 Lime curd and almond tart Marbled strawberry bombe Meringue baked apples Meringue-strawberry Orange mousse meringue pie Panna cotta with berry compote Peach custard ice cream with fresh peach compote Peach ice cream Pear tart tatin Pears vigneronne Pizzellis Poached pears in red wine Raspberry hazelnut praline soufflé glacé Rose shaped apple dessert Sicilian cannoli Strawberries with zabaglione sauce Strawberry-topped lime mousse tart Upside-down peach cake White chocolate and raspberry tart Wine jelly
Almond sherry ice cream with honeyed figs Amaretto fruit bread Apricot tart Apricot-orange shortbread bars Asparagus mimosa Asparagus with cream cheese and prosciutto Asparagus with Parma ham and roasted pepper coulis Baked alaska snow balls Baked carrot terrine Baked goat cheese with salad greens Baked polenta with fontina and gorgonzola Baked salmon fillet with basil sauce Baked squash risotto with a crispy crumb topping Balsamic potato salad Bavarois turinoise Beet with frizzled leek and gorgonzola crostini Bomba italian doughnuts Bowtie pasta with shrimp and asparagus Braised salmon steaks with fennel and thyme Broccoli au gratin Broccoli rabe with parmesan cheese Broccoli salad Brunch strata with crabmeat and asparagus Bruschetta orzo salad Cacio e pepe pasta Cajun salmon fillet grenobloise with angel hair pasta Calzones Campanelle pasta with hen of the woods mushrooms Candied grapefruit peel Cannellonis Caprese pasta salad Caprese salad Caramelized figs with fudge sauce Carrot gnocchi Cauliflower and pasta Celery root and mashed potatoes Cheese tart with artichoke hearts Chestnut stuffing with onion and currant Chicken breasts in vermouth Chicken breasts parma Chicken breasts veronique Chicken primavera Chicken provencale Chicken salad with pasta and asparagus Chicken with endive radicchio and balsamic vinegar glaze Chicken with portobello mushroom sauce Chocolate hazelnut cheesecake Chocolate raspberry ice cream Chocolate-mocha soufflé Chocolate-orange sorbet Cocoa sponge cake Coconut kisses Coconut-almond bars Coffee custards Cold broccoli soup Cold salmon and pasta Cranberry pistachio biscotti Creamed fettuccine with smoked salmon Creamed spinach Creamed spinach with mushrooms Creamy polenta with gorgonzola Crown roast of lamb in a parmesan-sage crust Curried mussel salad with tiny pasta Dilled pasta salad Dried tomato and fennel stuffing Eggplant and tomato with chevre Eggplant caponata Eggplant caviar Eggplant meatballs in marinara Eggplant soufflé Fall greens with walnuts feta and walnut vinaigrette Fast focaccia Fettuccini primavera and pesto dressing Flatbread pizzas Fried green tomatoes Frittata Fruit sorbet Garlic mussels with pasta and cherry tomatoes Garlic roasted potatoes Gnocchi alla romana Gnocchi with green chive sauce Gnocchi with spinach and ricotta Goat cheese and sun-dried tomato toasts Grilled bruschetta chicken Grilled chicken and vegetable pasta salad Grilled chicken pesto Grilled salmon fillets with sun-dried tomatoes Grilled tomatoes kebabs Holiday biscotti Homemade pizza dough Italian Christmas pastries Italian garden salad Italian stuffing with sausage Lasagna Lemon chicken breast Lemon chicken cutlets Lemon cream tart Lemon custard Lemon krumkake Lemon mousse Lemon pudding cake Lemon sorbet in lemon shells Lemon tart #2 Lime curd and almond tart Linguine alla carbonara Linguine primavera Marbled strawberry bombe Marinara sauce Meat sauce Mediterranean farro salad Meringue baked apples Meringue-strawberry Minestrone with cabbage and spinach Mussel pasta salad Mussels and spaghetti Mussels marinara with linguine Neapolitan pizza for a home kitchen Nicoise orzo salad Onion and cheese frittata Onion parmesan gratin Orange mousse meringue pie Orecchiette with shiitake mushroom sauce Orzo pilaf with green onions Orzo salad with lemon and herb Orzo with wild mushrooms Panettone Panna cotta with berry compote Panzanella salad Parmesan and basil chicken salad Parmesan and thyme crackers Parmesan polenta soufflé Parmesan sage polenta sticks Pasta and tuna with caper dressing Pasta e fagioli with pesto and butternut squash Pasta fagioli Pasta roll with three cheese Pasta salad in parmesan baskets Pasta salad with tuna and greek olives Pasta with broccoli and beans Pasta with summer vegetables Peach custard ice cream with fresh peach compote Peach ice cream Pear tart tatin Pears vigneronne Penne in cream sauce and sausage Pesto Pissaladière Provençale Pizza margherita Pizzellis Poached pears in red wine Polenta a la romaine Polenta fries Pork chops parmigiana Potato gnocchi -gnocchi di patate Potato gnocchi with lobster Pumpkin and sweet garlic custards Rack of lamb with mushroom crust Raspberry hazelnut praline soufflé glacé Risotto with mushrooms asparagus and spring peas Roast tomato tart Roasted salmon with white beans tomato and spinach Roasted tomato caprese salad Roasted tomatoes Roasted tomatoes and red peppers Rollatines of chicken Rose shaped apple dessert Rosemary chicken salad Rosemary-roasted chicken with potatoes and fennel Rotolo di spinaci - spinach and ricotta lasagne roll-ups San remo pasta salad Shrimp scampi Shrimp-tortellini pesto Sicilian arancini Sicilian cannoli Silk handkerchiefs with pesto Soft polenta Soft potato ravioli with truffle pan sauce Soufflé renversé Spaghetti bake Spaghetti squash pesto with tomatoes Spaghetti with creamy garlic and leeks Sparkling lemon cream Spinach and pasta salad Spring green risotto Strawberries with zabaglione sauce Strawberry-topped lime mousse tart Striped bass italienne Stuffed chicken breasts Stuffed pork chops with polenta and tomatoes Stuffed tomatoes with mussels Summer pasta vegetable salad Summer salad Summer squash skins with garlic bread crumbs Sweet onion risotto cakes Sweet potato gnocchi with sage and brown butter The pasta salad Tomato and Seafood Penne Tomato aspic Tomato pie with polenta crust Tomato-basil tortellini Tomato-feta phyllo kisses Tomatoes stuffed with goat cheese Tri-color salad Tuna and broccoli with farfalle Tuscan soup Upside-down peach cake Vegetable and herb orzo salad Vegetable lasagna Vegetarian minestrone White chocolate and raspberry tart Wine jelly Zucchini carpaccio salad

Cooking in Italy