Contents

List of Italian foods and drinks

Italian cuisine
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This is a list of Italian foods and drinks. Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BC. Italian cuisine has its origins in Etruscan, ancient Greek, and ancient Roman cuisines. Significant changes occurred with the discovery of the New World and the introduction of potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and maize, now central to the cuisine, but not introduced in quantity until the 18th century.^[1][2]

Italian cuisine includes deeply rooted traditions common to the whole country, as well as all the regional gastronomies, different from each other, especially between the north, the centre and the south of Italy, which are in continuous exchange.^[3][4][5] Many dishes that were once regional have proliferated with variations throughout the country.^[6][7] Italian cuisine offers an abundance of taste, and is one of the most popular and copied around the world.^[8] The most popular dishes and recipes, over the centuries, have often been created by ordinary people more so than by chefs, which is why many Italian recipes are suitable for home and daily cooking, respecting regional specificities.^[9][10][11]

The Mediterranean diet forms the basis of Italian cuisine, rich in pasta, fish, fruits and vegetables.^[12] Cheese, cold cuts and wine are central to Italian cuisine, and along with pizza and coffee (especially espresso) form part of Italian gastronomic culture.^[13] Desserts have a long tradition of merging local flavours such as citrus fruits, pistachio and almonds with sweet cheeses such as mascarpone and ricotta or exotic tastes such as cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon. Gelato,^[14] tiramisu^[15] and cassata are among the most famous examples of Italian desserts, cakes and patisserie. Italian cuisine relies heavily on traditional products; the country has a large number of traditional specialities protected under EU law.^[16] 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.^[17][18]

Foods and drinks[edit]

Note: the "Other foods and drinks" section is necessary to list foods without a specific placement.

Soups, sauces and condiments[edit]

Creams[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2024)

• Crema di pistacchio (orpasta di pistacchio)

Bread[edit]

Common pizzas[edit]

Pasta varieties[edit]

Pasta dishes[edit]

Rice dishes[edit]

Rice dishes are very common in northern Italy, especially in the Lombardy and Veneto regions, though rice dishes are found throughout the country.

Fish dishes[edit]

Meat dishes and cured meats[edit]

Vegetable dishes[edit]

Nut dishes[edit]

• Chestnut pie – has been documented back to the 15th century in Italy, in the book De honesta voluptate et valetudine (English: On honest indulgence and good health) written by the Italian writer and gastronomist Bartolomeo Platina.^[27]

Wines[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2024)

Liqueurs[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2024)

Non-alcoholic drinks[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2024)

• Latte di mandorla

Cheeses[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2024)

Considering the large number of Italian cheeses, only the most famous ones are listed below.

Cheese dishes[edit]

• Mozzarella in carrozza
• Mozzarelline allo zafferano

Desserts and pastry[edit]

Other foods and drinks[edit]