If you are lucky enough to visit Italy, you might be surprised by the many different food options available. In addition to pizza, pasta and dessert, Italian cuisine is also known for a number of savory dishes. These include ossobuco alla milanese, which is a bone-in veal shank that is cooked until meltingly tender. Orecchiette is a type of pasta that can be paired with vegetable and sausage, or served with Bolognese sauce. A popular Minestrone soup is made with a tomato-based broth. These dishes are popular in many different parts of Italy.
For example, in Sicily, you can enjoy sweetened shaved ice. Or you can indulge in a dessert called cannoli, which is a delicious ricotta cheese filling dipped in candied fruit and pistachios. In Italy, a popular appetizer is bruschetta, which is simply a toasted bread covered with garlic and olive oil.
Another Italian dish that is not surprisingly popular across the globe is lasagna. This delicious baked dish originated in the Emilia-Romagna region, and is typically made with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Bechamel sauce and meat. It is best eaten in the summer. A great place to taste it is in Rome, but you can find it in other cities as well. In some regions, it is a popular dish during the Carnivale season. The original recipe is not made with tomatoes, but a ragu sauce instead.
Other popular Italian dishes include polpette, which are meatballs that are made with minced meat, eggs and parsley. They are flavored with spices, such as pepper, fennel and wine. They are often eaten in combination with vegetables and rice.
A famous Italian dish is risotto. It is one of the best Italian food because of its unique texture. It is prepared with white wine, various broths, butter and Parmesan cheese. It can also be made with seafood, such as sea urchins.
Another favorite is gnocchi alla Sorrentina, which is a potato dumpling that is baked in fresh tomato sauce. Spaghetti alle vongole is another seafood dish that can be enjoyed with white wine. This is usually accompanied by cherry tomatoes. It is considered a tangy dish that pairs well with a light white wine.
Another Italian dish that is delicious is a salad, which is commonly made with gorgonzola cheese. The cheese is derived from the town of Gorgonzola, near Milan. You can find it fresh in Italian markets or in a number of upscale restaurants. You can also buy the cheese to be used in other recipes.
A popular dessert is affogato. This dessert is made with a scoop of vanilla gelato and a shot of espresso. It can be topped with fresh berries, honey and other flavors of gelato. It is served with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Other Italian food staples you may want to try are Tortellini and ribollita. Both are traditional peasant dishes, which have roots in the country's peasant cooking. You can find these dishes at a number of restaurants in the Italian Riviera.