One of the first things you need to know about Italian cuisine is that you probably know nothing about it.We love Italian cuisine because it’s accessible and easy to prepare. Around the world, no cuisine is more popular when it comes to our away-from-home dining habits. Italian cuisine, however, doesn’t have to be limited to only restaurants. With the best ingredients, it’s easy to prepare at home. Steer away from Italian-American food and focus on regional influences from the country itself. Take the opportunity to learn about what makes Roman food so different from Sicilian food and enjoy the health benefits of fresh, simple meals.
If the term conjures up images in your mind of purple-red tomato sauces smothering piles of pasta with wedges of garlic bread on the side, then you’re not thinking Italian. That image -- and the food it represents -- is more consistent with Italian-American cuisine, the type served at chain restaurants across North America.
The truth about Italian cuisine is that it’s simply and lovingly prepared using only the best ingredients. Seldom do the Italians load down their pasta dishes with tomato sauce and meatballs (although, when they do, the process of building a ragu can take anywhere from one to four days). More often, they base their dishes on locally grown produce and meats, cooked on the spot using olive oil. The best Italian dishes are prepared simply: a quick grill, a light season and a fresh presentation.
Like French food, Italian cuisine is very regional. In the north, dishes tend to be prepared with butter. Risottos and polenta are the orders of the day here. Cuisine from the central part of the country features cheeses, cured meats and tomato sauces, while dishes from the south are hearty, rich and spicy, and feature lots of citrus and seafood, and even some influence from North Africa.If you’re traveling to Italy on holiday, be prepared for a wonderful experience, but also know that the food you eat will taste nothing like the food back home. Typically, Italian-American dishes are loaded with flavor additives such as Italian seasoning, garlic powder and salt. Real Italian dishes are much simpler on the palate.
The truth about Italian cuisine is that it’s simply and lovingly prepared using only the best ingredients. Seldom do the Italians load down their pasta dishes with tomato sauce and meatballs (although, when they do, the process of building a ragu can take anywhere from one to four days). More often, they base their dishes on locally grown produce and meats, cooked on the spot using olive oil. The best Italian dishes are prepared simply: a quick grill, a light season and a fresh presentation.
Like French food, Italian cuisine is very regional. In the north, dishes tend to be prepared with butter. Risottos and polenta are the orders of the day here. Cuisine from the central part of the country features cheeses, cured meats and tomato sauces, while dishes from the south are hearty, rich and spicy, and feature lots of citrus and seafood, and even some influence from North Africa.If you’re traveling to Italy on holiday, be prepared for a wonderful experience, but also know that the food you eat will taste nothing like the food back home. Typically, Italian-American dishes are loaded with flavor additives such as Italian seasoning, garlic powder and salt. Real Italian dishes are much simpler on the palate.
But don’t make the mistake of calling these dishes “bland.” When you consider the quality of the food and the care that went into its preparation, you’ll appreciate the simplicity of these dishes.
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