Famous for a Reason: The Italian Food You Need to Try

Are you looking for a fulfilling bite to eat?

Italy has made its mark as one of the most beautiful and sought-after travel destinations. However, Italians are also some of the most respected cooks in the world. Each region of Italy has an iconic mouth-watering dish.

We've all had our taste of pizza or some kind of pasta, but rarely have we had the chance to try authentic Italian food. If you're craving Italian cuisine, you can't miss these dishes. Read on to discover some great Italian dishes to satisfy your cravings.

Cichetti

Let's kick off this list with an appetizer, the cichetti. This dish is traditional Venetian finger food, reminiscent of Spanish tapas. Cicchetti is also seasonal and is like miniature versions of Venetian dishes.

The best part is you can make anything into these tiny open sandwiches. From paninis, olives, eggs, and baccalà, you're sure to get a primed palate.

Amatriciana

Amatriciana takes its name after a provincial town, Amatrice. The secret is in the sauce, which many consider a core member of the holy trinity of Roman pasta. To make Amatriciana sauce, you first need to have gricia sauce.

Saute diced tomatoes in cured pork jowl fat and add more tomatoes. Then, add some pecorino cheese and add your pasta. You may use either bucatini pasta or spaghetti.

Cacio e Pepe

A primary trait of Italian cuisine is that the dishes are simple but satisfying. That's why Italian cuisine is so famous, and that trait is also present in the cacio e pepe. This dish was a favorite of Roman shepherds because of the ingredients.

Salt, pasta, pepper, and aged Pecorino Romano cheese were easy to transport back in the day. With the right amount of savor and spice, this dish is sure to become your next favorite comfort food.

Gelato

Looking for something refreshing on a hot summer day? Gelato is one of Italy's signature desserts. Its richness and creaminess come from only milk and eggs.

However, it's the addition of fruits, chocolate, and vanilla that will make your heart swoon. It's crucial to remember that gelato is not the same as ice cream. Gelato's thicker and silkier texture makes the flavors richer.

One famous variant of gelato is Cioccolato. Its key ingredients include cocoa powder, chocolate, milk, sugar, and cream. Churning this mix thoroughly at a low speed will allow you to achieve that dense, smooth texture.

Pasta Carbonara

Carbonara is one of the famous Italian dishes around the world. It also remains iconic in Roman cuisine, and you'll find that it's a typical dish in Italy today.

True Italian pasta carbonara does not require olive oil or any other expensive ingredients. All you need are egg yolks, Pecorino Romano cheese, and cured pork jowl. Toss spaghetti into these ingredients, and you have an authentic Italian carbonara.

Lasagne alla Bolognese

Lasagna is another Italian dish that we all know and love. Traditional recipes call for homemade egg lasagna pasta. After layering the pasta on top of each other, we top it with rich meat sauce and bechamel sauce.

This rich meat sauce is also known as ragù alla bolognese. One key thing to remember about authentic lasagna is that the outcome will depend on your cheese. Choosing the wrong type of cheese can ruin the texture or may not match other flavors in the dish.

Your safest option is to go with Parmigiano-Reggiano, AKA the Emilian king of cheeses. Bake your lasagna until it becomes crisp and golden on the outside but tender on the inside.

Zabaione

Another iconic dish from Italy is the Zabaione, otherwise named Zabaglione. This custard cream dessert has a velvety texture made of only three ingredients. These are egg yolks, granulated sugar, and wine.

Most traditional recipes call for Marsala wine. You'll also need a whisk, patience, and a generous amount of elbow grease.

Add four egg yolks, 1/4 cup of Marsala wine, and 1/4 cup granulated sugar. Since you'll be whisking this in a hot water bath, it's best to use a copper or glass bowl. This allows you to achieve the right consistency of Zabaione.

It can take some time to master making Zabaione, but once you do, you can enjoy this delectable dessert anytime. Zabaione is a pretty flexible treat, served hot or cold, depending on the season. You can enjoy it with fresh fruit or cookies.

Fettuccine Alfredo

Fettuccine alfredo and carbonara may look similar, but there is a distinct difference. Instead of egg, you'll be using butter. For many of us, fettuccine alfredo may have been the first kind of pasta shaped in ribbony noodles.

Aside from cheese sauce, you can serve this with chicken, tomato, beef, or seafood.

Gnocchi all Sorrentina

This dish is native to Sorrento, a coastal village in Campania. This dish consists of potato pasta and a rich and creamy mozzarella and basil-flavored tomato sauce.

You can top this dish with pecorino, mozzarella, or even parmesan! Bake until bubbly or until the cheese is ready.

Pizza Napoletana

You can't have a list of Italian food without the beloved pizza. You may have tried American twists on pizza, like pineapple pizza or stuffed crust.

However, you can't beat authentic Italian pizza. If you've never tried pizza from a mobile-wood fired pizza oven, you're missing out.

Pizza out of a box is far from the authentic Italian experience. Italian pizza has a thick and tender dough.

Traditional recipes call for extra virgin olive oil, basil leaves, and fresh tomatoes. Cheese options include Fior di Latte cheese or melted mozzarella. If you want something extra savory, you can't go wrong with buffalo milk mozzarella.

Italian Catering: Enjoy Italian Food With Bella Roma

The beauty of Italian food is that it satisfies the heart and soul with only the simplest of ingredients. Italian cuisine has plenty of dishes to try, and each one is sure to hit the spot.

Are you looking to get authentic pizza catering for an event? At Bella Roma Catering, we offer only the best. Contact us today!

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