Top 10 dishes to try in Italy!

Travel Mode ON prepared a list with 10 dishes that you you definitely need to try in Italy. The taste of Italian cuisine can’t be compared to others. Despite the widespread assertion that Italy is the birthplace of pasta and pizza, here you can try many more other exquisite dishes.

1. Caprese Salad

Photo by Markus Spiske

The name of the salad was in honor of the island of Capri. Caprese salad is one of the most popular Italian dishes. Moreover, this dish is very patriotic. Each ingredient in it symbolizes one of the colors of the Italian flag. Mozzarella cheese and tomatoes cut into pieces. Spread on a plate, alternating with basil leaves.

2. Frittata

Photo by Kamila

This dish is just an Italian version of an omelet. It is prepared with various fillings of cheese, vegetables, sausage or meat, including even pasta or potatoes from yesterday’s dinner. Usually, it is cooked on the stove and then baked in the oven. In the preparation of Neapolitan frittatas often use pasta. A traditional frittata contains leeks and parmesan cheese. To the note, the Italians do not add products containing a lot of liquid to the frittata.

3. Bruschetta

Photo by Mariana Medvedeva

As a snack or before a meal in Italy, you will be served with something like hot sandwiches. For bruschetta, they mostly use ciabatta, but there may be other similar types of bread. The basis remains unchanged – grilled slices of bread, grated with garlic and sprinkled with olive oil. And on top layout the stuffing – ham, mozzarella, tomatoes, olives and more. The most popular type of bruschetta is with tomatoes and basil.

4. Cacciucco

Photo by PortoBay Experiences

Seafood soup, very popular in the port town of Livorno, in Tuscany. This dish is prepared from a mixture of fish broth, tomato paste and red wine with the addition of seafood. According to the custom in this dish, there should be as many varieties of fish as there are letters “c” in the word cacciucco.

5. Cannelloni

Photo by Corine Ouellet

This is one of the varieties of pasta, so popular in Italy. Cannelloni is a paste in the form of tubes, 2–3 cm in diameter and about 10 cm long. Usually, there are 4–5 of them in a portion. Firstly, pasta is boiled, and then the tubes are filled with a filling of cheese or cottage cheese, spinach, meat, and other ingredients. Next, bake in the oven and eat with pleasure.

6. Gnocchi

Photo by Rob Ward

This little scary name describes a very easy and extremely tasty dish. Gnocchi is made from potatoes, semolina, cheese, served with tomato or other sauce. It is worth noting that in different parts of Italy it is prepared according to different recipes.

7. Calzone

Photo by Roberto Valdivia

Calzone is one type of pizza, but not a simple one. After putting the filling, it is folded in half, in the shape of a crescent. This dish is typical for the central and southern regions of Italy. Here it is used as a snack. Calzone is stuffed with anything – vegetables, mushrooms, sausage, cheese, and even fruit. You can also find another Italian name for this dish – panzerotto. The real calzone flavor can be felt only when you open the stuffed dough.

8. Cotoletta Alla Milanese

Photo by Nikola and Tamara

Only one name of this dish sounds beautiful. In fact, this dish is not quite similar to burgers, but rather a Viennese schnitzel. There is still a lot of controversies, the Italians stole the recipe from the Austrians or vice versa. It is not known for sure, but the recipe for Milanese cutlets can be found in the menu of 1134 years of one of the royal dinners. It would be more correct to even name this Milanese-style chop dish. For cooking use pork chops on the bone, they are carefully fried in breading.

9. Tiramisu

Photo by Yuhong

And, of course, desserts. And not a simple dessert, but known to the whole world. Tiramisu is served in restaurants in almost every country. However, what is real tiramisu, you will only know in Italy. According to the traditional recipe, it is not baked and is not at all like a cake. Most likely, this is a well-soaked cream dessert.

10. Cannoli

Photo by Justin Green

This is a dessert that you must try in Sicily. Cannoli is a waffle crispy roll, filled with mascarpone cheese, whipped curd or ricotta with the addition of various syrups (often vanilla and chocolate), Marsala wine or rose water. Previously, cannoli were served only during the carnival. It is good that now, you can taste this delicious dessert any time of the year.

More interesting you can find in these articles: 

• ”5 of the best traditional European desserts”

• Italian Main Dishes

• Italian food