The Italian culture is a rich one, and is often associated with romance. The food is not only delicious but also beautiful to look at. The food in Italy is some of the best in the world, and there are so many different types of dishes to try.
Italian cuisine is often considered one of the most sophisticated and flavorful in the world.
What are the popular Italian foods? When you think of Italian food, what comes to mind? From Pasta dishes to Pizza, Gelato, Risotto, Italian food has always been a favorite.
If you’re visiting for a week or more, it’s hard not to want to eat your way through every city. Here are 15 popular Italian foods that you should try when visiting this beautiful country!
Pizza
Pizza is one of the most well known foods in Italy. It’s often eaten for lunch or dinner, and there are so many different types to try! The ingredients vary depending on location, but you should be able to find it almost everywhere.
Pizza is a type of flatbread that is topped with various ingredients, such as tomato sauce, cheese, pepperoni, and mushrooms. It can be eaten plain or with additional toppings.
Pasta
There are hundreds of different pasta dishes you can enjoy while traveling through Italy. One popular pasta dish is cacio e pepe, which is made with cheese and pepper. Another favorite is lasagna. You’ll find these delicious dishes in almost every part of the country!
Pasta is made from flour or semolina, and is often served with a tomato-based sauce. It is usually topped with cheese, meat, or vegetables.
Gelato
Gelato is another popular ice cream flavor in Italy, and you should definitely try it when visiting. There are several flavors to choose from including chocolate, vanilla, hazelnut, pistachio, coconut, and strawberry. Gelato is a type of ice cream, but it’s often considered much better than regular ice cream.
Usually gelato has about 5% to 8% fat, while American ice creams contain around 10% to 18%. It’s often made fresh daily, so you know that the ingredients are always fresh! You can find this sweet treat just about anywhere in the country.
Tiramisu
Tiramisu is the most popular Italian dessert after gelato! The word means pick me up in Italian because it will give you all of the energy you need after dinner! It has layers of mascarpone, espresso, ladyfingers dipped in coffee, and cocoa powder.
This creamy cake is so delicious that even non-dessert fans enjoy it! This sweet treat is best enjoyed with loved ones at the end of a meal. Don’t forget to take some home for later!
Risotto
Risotto is a creamy, rice-based dish that is often served as a main course. It can be made with various ingredients such as shrimp, lobster, sausage, and vegetables. The rice is cooked in broth until it’s soft and then topped with cheese.
This dish is often found in Northern Italy, where the cuisine has more of a French influence. Risotto is a bit time consuming to make, but it’s definitely worth it!
Bruschetta
Bruschetta is an antipasto (starter) that you’ll find all over Italy. It’s made with bread that is rubbed with garlic and then toasted. The bread is then topped with tomatoes, olive oil, basil, and salt.
Bruschetta is a great way to start your meal, and you can’t go wrong with the classic combination of garlic, basil, tomatoes, olive oil, and salt. Make sure to save some room for the main course!
Panettone
Panettone is a sweet bread dish that can be eaten for breakfast or as a dessert. It’s very similar to the American dish known as French toast, and it’s often topped with powdered sugar and other flavorful ingredients like honey and fruit.
This popular Italian food item can be found during the holidays, but many restaurants serve it year-round! So if you’re looking for a warm breakfast or sweet snack then panettone might be just what you need!
Cannoli
Cannoli is a dessert that you’ll find all over Italy. It’s made with cream-filled tubes of fried dough that are then rolled in a sugar and cinnamon mixture.
This popular Italian food item is often served during special occasions, such as Christmas or Easter. However, you can find it at most restaurants throughout the country. Make sure to give it a try if you’re looking for a sweet treat!
Spaghetti
Spaghettis are a very popular Italian dish, and should be eaten at least once while traveling through the country. Spaghetti is a long, thin pasta that is often served with tomato sauce or meat sauce. It’s one of the most popular Italian dishes and can be found almost everywhere.
They’re usually cooked with garlic and other vegetables or meats! You can also find different types of spaghetti such as carbonara spaghetti, vodka spaghetti, pesto spaghetti, marinara spaghetti, and more.
Arancini
Arancini are a type of rice ball that is often found in Italian cuisine. It’s made with cooked rice, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese. The rice is then rolled into a ball and coated in bread crumbs before being fried.
This popular Italian food can be eaten as a snack or as a main dish. You can find them at most restaurants throughout the country. They’re usually served with marinara sauce or another dipping sauce.
Tortellini
Tortellini are small, stuffed pasta that are often served with various sauces. They’re also known as “tortelloni”. They can be found in restaurants all over the world, but they were actually named after a famous Roman holiday!
These popular Italian foods are usually filled with cheese or meat and then served with either another sauce or oil. You can find tortellini at many different types of restaurants throughout Italy!
Lasagna
Lasagna is a classic Italian dish that you should definitely try while visiting the country. It’s made up of flat noodles layered with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, ground beef, and other vegetables such as onions, garlic, carrots,, etc. The dish is then topped with another layer of noodles, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
Lasagna is usually served during special occasions like Christmas or Easter! However, you can find it at most restaurants throughout the country. It’s a very popular dish so make sure to give it a try while visiting Italy!
Bolognese sauce
Bolognese sauce is a meat-based sauce that’s usually served over pasta. The sauce is made with ground beef, onion, celery, carrot, and tomato paste. It’s one of the most popular sauces in Italy!
This popular Italian food is often served with pasta, but can also be eaten with bread or even used as a dip. You can find it at most restaurants throughout the country. It’s a very hearty and filling dish, so make sure to save room for it!
Calzone
Calzone is a type of filled Italian pastry that’s often served as a main dish. It can be folded over into a half-moon shape or filled with pizza toppings, such as pepperoni and mozzarella cheese.
Calzones can be found at most pizzerias throughout Italy, but it’s also common for restaurants to serve them as a main dish. They’re great for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner depending on the time you eat! So if you see one on the menu make sure to give it a try!
This popular Italian food is very filling so just one piece should be enough! You can find calzone at many different types of restaurants throughout the country.
Fettucini Alfredo
Fettucini Alfredo is a butter and cheese-based sauce that’s often served with pasta. It’s one of the most popular Italian dishes and can be found at most restaurants throughout the country.
This popular Italian food is very rich and creamy so it’s perfect for those who love cheese! The sauce is made with butter, cream, Parmesan cheese, and Romano cheese.
You can find fettuccini alfredo at most Italian restaurants, but it’s also common to see it on American restaurant menus. So if you’re looking for a tasty and creamy pasta dish, make sure to order fettuccini alfredo while traveling through Italy!
Final words
These dishes are just a few of the most popular Italian foods. There’s a huge variety of other delicious dishes that you should definitely try while going through Italy, such as risotto and cannoli!
So make sure to save room for a tasty Italian meal when traveling through the country! But remember… no matter how full you get, there will always be room for gelato! Bon apetite!
Thanks for reading & don’t forget to comment below!
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