ITALIAN

CUISINE
 Introduction
• Italian cuisine has a tradition of dishes
based on wheat products (such as bread
and pasta), vegetables, cheese, fish, and meat,
usually prepared in such a manner as to
preserve their ingredients' natural
qualities, appearance, and taste.
• This kind of cuisine puts a stress on
lightness and healthy nutrition with
natural unprocessed foods, and tends to
vary greatly not only with the seasons but
also between the various regions of the
country.
• Mountainous regions have dishes rich in
proteins, and prefer meat, butter, and
cheese, while seaside regions have dishes
rich in vegetables and fish.
• In this way, the cuisine is born of the people,
the territory and the seasons, and is not
pulled out of nowhere for no rhyme or
reason.
 CONTEXT
• The Mediterranean diet forms the basis of
Italian cuisine, rich in pasta, fish, fruits and
vegetables. Cheese, cold cuts and wine are
central to Italian cuisine, and along with
pizza and coffee (especially espresso) form
part of Italian gastronomic culture.
• Desserts have a long tradition of merging
local flavors such as citrus fruits, pistachio
and almonds with sweet cheeses like
mascarpone and ricotta or exotic tastes as
cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon. Gelato, tiramisù
and cassata are among the most famous
examples of Italian desserts, cakes and
patisserie
• 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
 HISTORY
• Italian cuisine has developed over the
centuries. Although the country known as
Italy did not unite until the 19th century, the
cuisine can claim traceable roots as far back
as the 4th century BC.
• Italian cuisine started to form after the
fall of the Roman Empire when different
cities began to separate and form their own
traditions. Many different types A Roman mosaic depicting a banquet during a
of bread and pasta were made, and there was hunting trip from the Late Roman
a variation in cooking techniques and
preparation.
• The country was then split for a long time
and influenced by surrounding countries
such as Spain, France and others in Central
Europe. Trade and the location on the Silk
Road with its routes to Asia also influenced
the local development of special dishes.
• Due to the climatic conditions and the
different proximity to the sea, different basic
foods and spices were available
from region to region. Simplicity was
A restored medieval kitchen inside
abandoned and replaced by a culture of Verrucole Castle, Tuscany.
gastronomy as the Roman Empire developed.
 HISTORY
• By the time ”De re coquinaria” was
published in the 1st century AD, it
contained 470 recipes calling for heavy
use of spices and herbs. The Romans
employed Greek bakers to
produce breads and imported cheeses
from Sicily as the Sicilians had a reputation
as the best cheesemakers.
• Arabs invaded Sicily in the 9th century,
introducing spinach, almonds,
and rice. During the 12th century,
a Norman king surveyed Sicily and saw
people making long strings made
from flour and water called atriya,
which eventually became trii, a term still
used for spaghetti in southern Italy.
• The macaroni was cooked in capon stock
flavored with saffron,
displaying Persian influences. Martino
noted avoidance of excessive spices in
favour of fresh herbs.
Apicius, De re coquinaria (English: On the Subject of Cooking),
1709 edition
 HISTORY
• At the beginning of the 18th century,
Italian culinary books began to emphasize
the regionalism of Italian cuisine rather
than French cuisine. Italian cuisine is one
of the most popular and copied around
the world.
• The lack or total unavailability of some
of its most characteristic ingredients
outside of Italy, also and above all to
falsifications (or food fraud), leads to
the complete denaturalization of Italian
ingredients.
• Today the differences in Italian cooking
still show through in the distinctions
between the north and the south. Each
region still carries their own traditions
in cooking.
• Essential Italian Ingredients

• Italian ingredients focus on the common

staples of the Mediterranean diet,
including tomatoes, olives, and whole
grains. The art of Italian cooking centers
around the following essential Italian
ingredients:
• Tomatoes
• Olives
• Pasta
• Cheese
• Wine
• Essential Italian Herbs & Spices
• The world of Italian cooking involves
such a diversity of spices and flavors, In
Italian cuisine, these ingredients are used
to both enhance the flavor of traditional
Italian recipes and provide health benefits
at the same time.
• Here’s a list of the most popular Italian
herbs and spices used in Italian cooking:
• Garlic
• Oregano
• Parsley
• Basil
• Rosemary
• Red Pepper Flakes
TRADITIONAL ITIALIAN DISHES

• ITALIAN APPETIZERS, ENTREES, AND DESSERTS

VARY BETWEEN REGIONS, BUT ALL ITALIAN
CUISINE FOLLOWS THE SAME PHILOSOPHY : simple
recipes with fresh ingredients.
• Here are SOME of the most popular
traditional dishes from around Italy. :
1. Lasagna.
2. Ravioli.
3. Caprese salad.
4. Tiramisu.
5. Neapolitan pizza
6. Polenta
Breakfast

1. Coffee - You need not visit Italy to know

that Italians love their coffee, not just
for breakfast, but all day long.For
Italians, drinking a hot cup of coffee is
the only right way to start the day. We
have them to thank for the many types of
coffee we all love and enjoy.

2. Cappuccino - Cappuccino is another

Italian coffee that is consumed at
breakfast. The beverage is made with a
double shot of espresso and creamy milk
and topped with extra foamy milk.Since it
is fatty and heavy, Italians consider it a
stand-alone breakfast and don’t drink it
with other dishes.
Breakfast

3. Thick Italian Hot Chocolate - Super thick,

chocolatey, pudding-like drink called
cioccolata calda. Italian hot chocolate
is super rich and decadent, it can
sometimes double as a dessert. It’s so thick,
you will need to use a spoon to drink/eat
it! No wonder, because it’s made with
actual pieces of chocolate, milk, and
sugar. The chocolate is melted in a special
machine that turns it into a delicious
masterpiece.

4. Italian Biscuits - While the Brits usually

serve their biscuits during afternoon tea,
Italians have them with coffee or milk for
breakfast. Dunk these crumbly treats in a
steaming cup of coffee and enjoy.
Breakfast

5. Brioche - Brioches are another Italian

pastry made of sweet dough. You’ll see
them in Italian pastry shops and cafes
usually served with coffee. There are
many ways to eat brioche, but they are
filled with vanilla cream, jam, or almond
paste.

6. Biscotti - If you want something nutty and

crunchy to dip into your coffee, go for
biscotti! Biscotti are sweet almond-based
biscuits that are super crunchy and
flavorful.
Breakfast

7. Italian Breakfast Frittata - If you’ve had a

breakfast casserole, quiche, or omelet
before, then you more or less know what
a frittata tastes like. This traditional
Italian breakfast is also egg-based and
usually infused with meats, vegetables, and
cheese. A frittata is like an unfolded
omelet, or a quiche sans the crust.

8. Crepes - Crepes may have originated in

France, but Italy has an equally tasty
version. They’re called crespelle. This
Italian variant is much thinner and
crisper than its French counterpart. But,
just like French crepes, you can use sweet
and/or savory fillings or toppings to
flavor it.
Breakfast

9. Croissants - Croissants are another

French pastry, but they’ve also got this
tasty bread in Italy, and they call them
cornetto. Cornetto means little horn,
which perfectly describes what the pastry
looks like.Unlike its French counterpart,
though, cornetto is much softer and has
less butter. You might be wondering,
croissants/cornetto are not the
healthiest of breakfast foods. So how do
most Italians have such a fit figure? Well,
the answer is simple: everything in
moderation. They don’t eat croissants
every morning! Rather, it’s something they
eat only from time to time, when they’re
feeling indulgent.
 LUNCH
• 1. Caprese Salad with Pesto Sauce
• Nothing like a fresh tomato salad in summer! A
great antipasto bite to start your meal with. This
combination of juicy tomatoes and mozzarella
cheese salad topped with freshly made pesto
sauce is a distinct yet simple one. It offers a twist
to the classic Caprese salad.

• 2. Panzanella
• Panzenella is a Tuscan bread salad, ideal
for summer. It does not follow a particular
recipe, but the two ingredients that do not
change are tomatoes and bread. This salad is
great with a chilled glass of Prosecco and
lots of sunshine!
• 3. Bruschetta
• An antipasto dish, bruschetta has grilled bread
topped with veggies, rubbed garlic, and tomato
mix. A country bread sliced and topped with
different toppings – the evergreen tomato-basil
and an inventive mushroom-garlic. The classic
Italian starter!

• 4. Focaccia Bread
• Fresh dough is topped with caramelized onions,
olives, tomato slices, basil leaves, and grated
parmesan cheese, and baked delicious!

• 5. Pasta Carbonara
• This simple Roman pasta dish derives its name
from ‘carbon' meaning coal. It was a pasta
popular with the coal miners. The original
recipe calls for guanciale, which is pig's cheek,
but since it’s not easily available, the chef has
used bacon instead.
• 6. Margherita Pizza
• Fancy a piping hot pizza, fresh out of the
oven? Create one at home! Margherita Pizza
is to many the true Italian flag. One of the
most loved Italian dishes, it just takes a few
simple ingredients and you get insanely
delicious results! You just can’t go wrong
with that tomato, basil, and fresh
mozzarella combo.

• 7. Mushroom Risotto
• A plateful of buttery risotto with the
goodness of mushrooms. A healthy bowl of
mushroom risotto has benefits more than
you can think. A great source of protein,
powerful antioxidant and even has
cancer-fighting properties. This risotto
recipe with mushrooms is a delicious recipe
besides being easy and quick! Great to feed
a hungry horde!
• 8. Pasta Con Pomodoro E
Basilico
• This is the most basic and simplest cooked pasta
sauce, hence it is the benchmark of a good
Italian home cook. This one boasts of being
among the original Italian recipes of pasta. Easy
and quick, this pasta recipe can be made in
under half an hour. Serve as breakfast, pack
for kid's tiffin or savor as an evening snack.
You can even cook this for a casual and
lazy dinner and pair this up with red wine.

• 9. Lasagna
• The ultimate Italian dish has to be this recipe
for Lasagna. A secret to the best lasagna recipe
lies in the perfectly made, homemade bolognese
sauce and this bacon and lamb lasagna boasts
a delicious one! Loaded with parmesan cheese
and layered with a mix of vegetables, bacon
strips, and minced lamb, this lasagna recipe is
nothing short of perfect.
• 10. Stuffed Ravioli
• The classic Italian Ravioli comes with an
Indian twist. Tricolor ravioli stuffed
pumpkin, shallots and oodles of parmesan
cheese along with the goodness of
walnuts.
 DESERT
• 1. Tiramisu - The 'pick-me-up’ cake
• The delightful tiramisu recipe with sponge
fingers soaked in coffee, layered around and
smeared with a creamy mascarpone mixture.
The word 'tiramisu' in Italian means 'pick-me-up'.
Owing to its caffeine kick it sure does!

• 2. Pistachio Panna Cotta

• End your meals, the Italian way! Panna
cota is dessert is made with gelatin, cream and
milk. Chilled and served with chopped
pistachios garnishing. Panna Cotta, in Italian,
means 'cooked cream.' This is a very easy and
quick dessert to prepare for a party at home.
With just a handful of ingredients, you can
have this Italian delicacy and relish away!
• 3. Panettone
• An Italian sweet bread, panettone is a
perfect Christmas or New year's dessert
with the goodness of egg, flour, sugar,
raisins, candied orange, lemon and
cherries.
 THANK YOU

COMPILED BY :

• PIYUSH Bhajekar
• DEV Dadhania
• AFTAB hawaldar
• ANISH Kabra
• SWAPNIL Karad