Italy carries a well-established and deserved history for producing high-quality recipes and delicious cuisines. Best known for pizza and pasta, Italian food also consists of many exemplary meat and seafood dishes, plus excellent cheeses, and fabulous desserts.[I:http://www.naturmeds.info/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/RobinMathews17.jpg]
Food in Italy is a way of spending quality time and bond with family and friends. Italian cuisine is all about attention to detail that goes to making each dish just perfect. Italian food varies from region to region and are generally simple and straightforward to prepare. A few of the popular ingredients used in plenty of Italian dishes include potato, bell pepper and tomato. Cheese is regarded as a necessary ingredient and is utilized the majority Italian dishes.
Italy was only united in 1861 and thus has great diversity in culture. It is also reflected in its cuisines. It should also be noted that Italy has been invaded many times over the centuries, as well as involved trading with many other countries, and this too is reflected in the national cuisine.
Lets take a quick gander on a few of the Italian cuisines:
– Northern Italy’s native products include balsamic vinegar, bolognese sauce (ragu), lasagna, mortadella (a heat-cured pork sausage, served as a cold cut) parmigiano (parmesan cheese) polenta (a dish constituted of boiled cornmeal), prosciutto (dry cured ham) and tortellini (stuffed pasta). Rice is grown in both Lombardy and Piedmont (although they differ in these two regions), and used to make risotto.
– Tuscan cuisine used white beans, meat and bread.
– Pizzas and Mozzarellas originated from Naples.
– Many Roman and Italian cuisines generously use cheese made out of sheep’s milk, also knows as pecorino.
– Salami, a preferred Italian dish originated in southern Italy.
– Sardinia is well-known because of its lamb and pecorino (cheese made out of sheep’s milk).
– Sicilian cuisine is noted for its Arab influences in its cooking (with the use of lemon and pistachio), as well as for its seafood (including tuna and swordfish). Sicily is also home of gelato (ice cream) and granita (a delicious semi-frozen dessert made using sugar, water and flavorings).
For more information and videos on Best pasta recipes and other Italian food please go to Great Italian Recipes