List of Italian foods and drinks explained

This is a list of Italian foods and drinks. Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BC. Italian cuisine has its origins in Etruscan, ancient Greek, and ancient Roman cuisines. Significant changes occurred with the discovery of the New World and the introduction of potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and maize, now central to the cuisine, but not introduced in quantity until the 18th century.[1] [2]

Italian cuisine includes deeply rooted traditions common to the whole country, as well as all the regional gastronomies, different from each other, especially between the north, the centre and the south[3] of Italy, which are in continuous exchange.[4] [5] [6] Many dishes that were once regional have proliferated with variations throughout the country.[7] [8] Italian cuisine offers an abundance of taste, and is one of the most popular and copied around the world.[9] The most popular dishes and recipes, over the centuries, have often been created by ordinary people more so than by chefs, which is why many Italian recipes are suitable for home and daily cooking, respecting regional specificities.[10] [11] [12]

The Mediterranean diet forms the basis of Italian cuisine, rich in pasta, fish, fruits and vegetables.[13] Cheese, cold cuts and wine are central to Italian cuisine, and along with pizza and coffee (especially espresso) form part of Italian gastronomic culture.[14] Desserts have a long tradition of merging local flavours such as citrus fruits, pistachio and almonds with sweet cheeses such as mascarpone and ricotta or exotic tastes such as cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon. Gelato,[15] tiramisu[16] and cassata are among the most famous examples of Italian desserts, cakes and patisserie. Italian cuisine relies heavily on traditional products; the country has a large number of traditional specialities protected under EU law.[17] Italy is the world's largest producer of wine, as well as the country with the widest variety of indigenous grapevine varieties in the world.[18] [19]

Foods and drinks

Note: the "Other foods and drinks" section is necessary to list foods without a specific placement.

Soups, sauces and condiments

Creams

Bread

Common pizzas

Pasta varieties

See main article: List of pasta.

Pasta dishes

See also: List of pasta dishes.

Rice dishes

See also: List of rice dishes.

Rice dishes are very common in northern Italy, especially in the Lombardy and Veneto regions,[24] although rice dishes are found throughout the country.

Fish dishes

See also: List of fish dishes.

Meat dishes and cured meats

Vegetable dishes

See also: List of vegetable dishes.

Nut dishes

Wines

See also: Italian wine.

Liqueurs

Non-alcoholic drinks

Cheeses

Considering the large number of Italian cheeses, only the most famous ones are listed below.

Cheese dishes

Desserts and pastries

See also: List of Italian desserts and pastries.

Other foods and drinks

Doughs

Coffee

Olive oil

Fruits, vegetables and legumes

Ingredients

Most important ingredients (see also: Italian herbs and spices):

Other common ingredients

Herbs and spices

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Making of Italian Food...From the Beginning . Epicurean.com . 24 April 2010 . 27 March 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100327080045/http://www.epicurean.com/articles/making-of-italian-food.html . live .
  2. Del Conte, 11–21.
  3. Book: Tomarchio, R. . Sicily Culinary Traditions . Mnamon . 2014 . 978-88-98470-43-3 . 7 December 2015 . 1.
  4. Encyclopedia: Related Articles . Italian cuisine . Britannica Online Encyclopedia . Britannica.com . 2 January 2009 . 24 April 2010 . 16 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100716014306/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/718430/Italian-cuisine . live .
  5. Web site: Italian Food – Italy's Regional Dishes & Cuisine . Indigo Guide . 24 April 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110102020059/http://www.indigoguide.com/italy/food.htm . 2 January 2011 .
  6. Web site: Regional Italian Cuisine . Rusticocooking.com . 24 April 2010 . 10 April 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100410072851/http://www.rusticocooking.com/regions.htm . live .
  7. Web site: Cronistoria della cucina italiana. 13 November 2021. it. 31 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211031013059/https://www.viedelgusto.it/piccola-storia-della-cucina-italiana/. live.
  8. Web site: Piatti regionali a diffusione nazionale. 13 November 2021. it. 29 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211029004725/https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/scoperta-e-invenzione-della-cucina-regionale_%28L%27Italia-e-le-sue-Regioni%29/. live.
  9. Web site: How pasta became the world's favourite food . bbc . 15 June 2011 . 28 September 2014 . 22 September 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140922021824/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13760559 . live .
  10. Web site: Individualità territoriale e stagionalità nella cucina italiana. 5 January 2020. it. 29 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211029052347/https://www.cibo360.it/cucina/mondo/cucina_italiana.htm. live.
  11. Web site: Regole e stagionalità della cucina italiana. 2 December 2016. 5 January 2020. it. 31 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211031093232/https://www.gqitalia.it/lifestyle/food-drinks/2016/12/02/le-5-regole-fondamentali-della-cucina-italiana. live.
  12. Web site: Nonne come chef. 5 January 2020. it. 31 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211031091730/https://www.sololibri.net/Le-ricette-della-nonna-Alla.html. live.
  13. The Silver Spoon, 1997 ed.
  14. News: Marshall . Lee . Italian coffee culture: a guide . 5 September 2013 . . 30 September 2009. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131010212148/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/6246202/Italian-coffee-culture-a-guide.html . 10 October 2013.
  15. News: Jewkes . Stephen . World's first museum about gelato culture opens in Italy . 5 September 2013 . . 13 October 2012. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131016062518/http://www.timescolonist.com/life/travel/world-s-first-museum-about-gelato-culture-opens-in-italy-1.15866 . 16 October 2013.
  16. News: Squires . Nick . Tiramisu claimed by Treviso . 5 September 2013 . The Daily Telegraph . 23 August 2013. live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130829091009/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/10261930/Tiramisu-claimed-by-Treviso.html . 29 August 2013.
  17. Web site: Keane . John . Italy leads the way with protected products under EU schemes . . 5 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140329075250/http://www.bordbia.ie/industryservices/information/alerts/Pages/ItalyleadsthewaywithprotectedproductsunderEUschemes.aspx . 29 March 2014.
  18. Web site: L'Italia è il maggiore produttore di vino. 25 November 2018 . 11 November 2021. it. 11 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211111224545/http://www.inumeridelvino.it/2018/11/la-produzione-di-vino-nel-mondo-2018-prima-stima-oiv.html. live.
  19. Web site: L'Italia è il paese con più vitigni autoctoni al mondo. 3 June 2017. 11 November 2021. it. 1 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211101044918/https://giornalevinocibo.com/2017/06/03/italia-prima-assoluta-per-vitgni-autoctoni-ecco-i-dati-dei-vari-stati/. live.
  20. Encyclopedia: panini . https://web.archive.org/web/20120714042851/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/panini . dead . 14 July 2012 . Oxford Dictionaries . Oxford University Press . 1 June 2016.
  21. Web site: Panini – Origin and Varieties. 5 September 2012. Taste and Flavours. 4 April 2024. 7 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171207135850/http://www.tasteandflavours.com/2012/09/panini-origin-and-varieties.html. live.
  22. News: Ask The Critic: Panini vs. panino—a singular answer to a plural faux pas . Rebekah . Denn . 30 August 2005 . Seattle Post-Intelligencer . 4 April 2024 . 7 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171207141636/http://www.seattlepi.com/lifestyle/food/article/Ask-The-Critic-Panini-vs-panino-a-singular-1181800.php . live .
  23. Book: Butterfield, Jeremy . Fowler's Concise Dictionary of Modern English Usage . 31 May 2016 . 2016 . 463 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-966631-7 . 14 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230214092524/https://books.google.com/books?id=w2NjCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA463 . live .
  24. Book: Riso: Undiscovered Rice Dishes of Northern Italy . Open Road Media . 2012 . pt-63 . 978-1-4532-4627-6.
  25. Book: Cabrini . L. . Malerba . F. . L'Italia delle conserve . Touring . Guide enogastronomia . 2004 . 978-88-365-3293-3 . it . 58.
  26. Web site: Pinzimonio . Martha Stewart . 9 November 2015 . 7 December 2015 . 2 November 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111102231505/http://www.marthastewart.com/338659/pinzimonio . live .
  27. Book: Montanari . M. . Brombert . B.A. . Medieval Tastes: Food, Cooking, and the Table . Columbia University Press . Arts and Traditions of the Table: Perspe . 2015 . 978-0-231-53908-1 . 115.
  28. Book: Laura Halpin . Rinsky . Glenn . Rinsky . The Pastry Chef's Companion: A Comprehensive Resource Guide for the Baking and Pastry Professional . John Wiley & Sons . Chichester . 2009 . 2 . 978-0-470-00955-0 . 173182689.