6 Italian Meals You Can Cook at Home
Italy is a country with so much beauty, and it captivated the world with its charm. A part of the formerly mighty Roman Empire, the country has a lot to offer to history geeks and tourists. But the most notable contribution of Italian culture to the world would be its culinary heritage. Who doesn’t know about dishes like pizza, pasta, tiramisu, risotto, and more? You probably have had an Italian meal for once in your life and wondered if you could make it in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Thankfully, many versions of Italian meals were created through the years. It makes cooking at home more convenient and less hassle. If you don’t know how to cook, save your worries because many recipes online can help you unleash your full potential. You don’t have to be a professional chef to come up with a tasty lasagne or hearty soup.
Continue reading as this article lists down six meals of Italian origin you can try making and add a personal twist to them.
1. Pizza Napoletana
Italian cuisine is most notable for its freshness, flavour, and sun-kissed ingredients. This makes pizza Italy’s quintessential dish that sums up the essence of the country’s culinary arts. While pizza comes in many kinds, there is one that represents the bunch. Culture, simplicity, and fresh ingredients come together in Pizza Napoletana, making it the perfect and most authentic pizza known by a lot of people outside Italy.
Cooking Pizza Napoletana has never been easier because you only need dough topped with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. To bind all the ingredients together, finish it off by drizzling extra virgin olive oil. With four simple ingredients, you can enjoy pizza like no other.
2. Lasagne
Besides pizza, lasagne is another Italian meal that you can try at home. As one of the world’s oldest pasta recipes, lasagne has been a staple in many households, restaurants, or places that serve food. This traditional Italian comfort food is made up of layers of pasta sheets, meat, sauce, and cheese. Like pizza, there is no one way to prepare lasagne. But the most common method remains the well-loved Lasagne alla Bolognese.
Making Lasagne in your kitchen is so much easier than you know it. You must know its components beforehand, including the ragù (meat-based Bolognese sauce), Béchamel sauce, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. When you have all these on hand, the next thing you need to do is assemble the lasagne. After that, you can enjoy the meal as it is or pair it with your go-to drink.
3. Carbonara
Although there is a debate about the origin of pasta, many believe that Marco Polo brought it back from China. Despite that, it paved the way to influence modern gastronomy. Take a good look around you; many restaurants specialise in Italian cuisine, even if they are not of Italian descent. When there is one dish that you should try to make at home, it should be pasta, like Carbonara. The simplicity of this pasta dish will not give you a hard time making it.
More than that, Carbonara’s ingredients only require fresh eggs, guanciale (pork jowl), Pecorino Romano cheese, and black pepper. Make sure that you don’t add cream to your Carbonara because you will not be making Alfredo sauce. That is another recipe that you must learn separately.
4. Panzanella
When it comes to healthy options, Italian cuisine never fails to impress. Try making Panzanella if you are looking after what you eat. It is a healthy yet delicious bread and tomato salad made in central Italy. Panzanella is a meal enjoyed by Italians during the hot summer months. This classic dish was created by peasants and originated from the green fields of Tuscany, where farmers rely on local produce to survive while working the whole day.
The original ingredients of Panzanella are made up of stale bread and onion. Today, sun-ripened tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh basil, and leftover bread seasoned with olive oil and vinegar make an excellent Panzanella. These ingredients are easy to find, making the dig less hassle to make at home.
5. Focaccia
There is no such thing as too many carbs when it comes to Italian cuisine. If you like bread more than pasta or pizza, Focaccia is an Italian meal you must try making at home. This delicious bread has many varieties all over Italy, but the ones from Genoa and villages located along the Italian Riviera are considered the most delectable in the world.
Typically made by combining soft and hard wheat flour, yeast, water, salt, and extra virgin olive oil, Focaccia is an irresistible bread. You can cut it into different shapes, make it into sandwiches, or pair it with a bowl of soup or salad.
6. Pizza Dolce
Always save room for desserts, and of course, Italians have sweet treats that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Did you know there is sweet pizza? Apart from the commonly known savoury pizza, a unique pizza stands out among all. Pizza dolce has many names, like sweet pie, Italian cheesecake, or layered moist sponge cake. However you want to call it, one thing is sure—pizza dolce will suffice your craving for dessert.
Pizza dolce has become one of the most sought-after Italian sweets, which is made up of layered sponge cake, almond mix, custard, and mocha icing. Not to mention the addition of Alchermes, rum, and anisette (anise) syrup to spice things up.
Get Authentic Italian Meals in Chelsea from Cucina Dolce!
Try out authentic Italian meals first before making them at home. Whether you crave pizza or pasta, Cucina Dolce has something in store for you. You can have your food delivered through our delivery services. Or head to our restaurant located at 8/426 Nepean Highway, Chelsea, to experience Italian-style cooking. For more questions and enquiries, call us on call 03 9772 9091 or email fred@cucinadolce.com.au.
