National Cuisine of Italy

A_Sober_Paddy

Looking around at all the different cuisine of the world and got me thinking about the national dishes of different countries, mainly Italy this week

Risotto
Lasagna
Pasta Carbonara
Pizza

Is there any particular type of the above dishes that are considered more authentic?

I have heard that cream isn't actually supposed to be used in Italian cuisine but in french cuisine...

Does anyone have any good recipes from Italy to share?

armaghlad

I suppose authentic bolognese would be up there?

duploelabs

armaghlad wrote: »

I suppose authentic bolognese would be up there?

GAHHHHHHH

Lovely Bloke

Different parts of Italy have different cuisines.

Bur really, pasta (noodles) were invented in Asia and Tomatoes are South American - so how Authentic do you want it to be?

There isn't cream in real, authentic, Carbonara.

A_Sober_Paddy

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Different parts of Italy have different cuisines.

Bur really, pasta (noodles) were invented in Asia and Tomatoes are South American - so how Authentic do you want it to be?

There isn't cream in real, authentic, Carbonara.

Just a beaten egg and cheese, no cream...

Yeah's pasta's where imported through Venice by Macro Polo if memory serves me

Brian?

A_Sober_Paddy wrote: »

Just a beaten egg and cheese, no cream...

Yeah's pasta's where imported through Venice by Macro Polo if memory serves me

I think we all learned that as kids, but it may be nonsense. I read something recently about Marco Polo, there's a very good chance he never got to China.

Italian food is so diverse I don't think there is a national dish or dishes. Pasta in various forms is definitely popular. But then so is roast pork and seafood. I work with an Italian guy who tells me the most popular food in his region is raw shell fish.

You could probably come up with a dish per province with no 2 provinces sharing a common dish.

Shenshen

Parmigiana, arancini, saltimbocca, ossobucco, caponata... I think one week won't be enough if you wanted to make a dish a day

LaChatteGitane

Pasta dishes and risotto are considered to be starters in Italy.
Pizza is snack/street food.

The Hill Billy

What about antipasti?
Also classics such as Vitello Tonnato, or Cacciatore- or Pizzaiola-style dishes?

Annasopra

I once saw a BBC programme that said tradtional lasagne doesn't have tomatoes

Also traditional minestrone soup is more of a vegetable and noodle broth with no tomatoes

LaChatteGitane

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

I once saw a BBC programme that said tradtional lasagne doesn't have tomatoes

Also traditional minestrone soup is more of a vegetable and noodle broth with no tomatoes

Indeed, lasagne is traditionally made with Ragu Bolognese which has a very limited amount of tomato paste, if any at all.

Keane2baMused

Ragu is italian. More sauces but Pesto is authentic Italian as is Zabaglione

Tiramisu also

As said pasta, soup and sometimes risotto are actually first courses or 'Primi'

Secondi is then your meat/ fish

Dolci Dessert
.

newacc2015

Food changes from region to region. Even Barilla produces 'regional pasta', as different parts of Italy make different shapes on their pasta. A pizza from Rome is different to one from Naples. Each Italian will you there region has the best food. As an Italian to make a dish and each one will come up their regional favourite. I have a few Italian friends. Some of their regional food is better than others. I had a Sicilian friend and her food was incredible. Another one of my friends is from close to the Austria border and her style of cooking is pretty horrible. The further south you go, the more serious they tend to take their food.

Italians do use cream. They like Panna sauces which are usually flavoured like mushroom, salmon, etc.