The beautiful boot-shaped country of Italy has long been revered for its robust and satisfying cuisine. The iconic dishes that come from Italy are vast and varied, and each region brings something special to the table. Everyone has their favorite dishes from the world of Italian cuisine. Here are some of the most notable Italian offerings that go well beyond the realm of pizzas and pastas and truly reflect the country’s best dishes.
1. Seafood Fra Diavolo
Depending on what is fresh and available, you may find everything from shrimp to clams in this dish. It’s a sautéed medley of the sea’s best, served over fresh-made linguine in a slightly spicy pescatore sauce. Perfect for those that love seafood and things a little on the spicy side.
2. Spaghetti al Pomodoro
Pomodoro sauce is made with vine-ripe San Marzano tomatoes. It sounds very simple, but don’t let that fool you. The simplest ingredients make for the freshest and best meals. The tomatoes are cooked with a mixture of fine herbs to create a splendid sauce that complements the spaghetti perfectly.
3. Osso Buco
This dish is perhaps one of the most famous from Italy. It’s a slow-braised lamb shank that is so tender it melts in your mouth. For a hearty and completely incredible Italian meal, Osso Buco is truly hard to beat.
4. Pollo Al Marsala
Boneless cutlets of chicken are sautéed with crimini mushrooms in a sauce made with Marsala wine. It’s an unforgettable flavor that leaves the chicken moist and tender. The Marsala sauce that adorns it is beautiful with pasta too.
5. Saltimbocca Di Vitello
A truly sublime dish, you’ll find veal cutlets lovingly topped with prosciutto and cooked in a sherry wine sauce. The intermingling of flavors brings out the savory tastes of the veal for a winning combination.
6. Pasta E Fagioli
This classic Italian bean soup is one of the most satisfying ways to begin a meal. Served with fresh-baked Italian bread, it is a hearty soup that can quell even the most ravenous of appetites.
Italian cuisine is also known for some of the sweetest desserts around. Cannoli is a fried tube-shaped pastry shell filled with a sweet, creamy ricotta filling. It’s pure bliss, though others will argue that tiramisu, a dessert made with layers of sponge cake soaked in coffee and brandy or liqueur and stacked with powdered chocolate and mascarpone cheese, is the ultimate Italian dessert indulgence. Perhaps the best way to settle that argument is to order both and savor the heavenly tastes of each.
As Italy produces some of the finest wines in the world, enjoying Italian cuisine with a nice bottle of Italian wine is the absolute best way to get a taste of this country. Warm, inviting and soothing, Italian food seeks to pamper our palates with the same welcoming feeling the old country emits.