| When people think of popular Italian food | | | | that originated here and is quickly gaining |
| they most likely think of spaghetti, lasagna, | | | | popularity as an Italian food dish is pasta |
| or tortellini. However, the popular Italian | | | | and beans. Beans are used in many dishes here |
| food in Italy is actually a little different | | | | due to their ready availability. This is also |
| and much more diverse. | | | | an area of Italy where anchovies and |
| | | | stockfish are used extensively in Italian |
| When discussing popular Italian food it is | | | | food. However, fish is not the dish of choice |
| essential to talk about the most popular | | | | here, being beaten out by meats and sausages. |
| breads and pastries. Breads serve an | | | | A favorite meat is sopressata which is a |
| important role in Italian food. They can be | | | | dry-cured salami. It gets its name from the |
| used as appetizers, sides to a meal, and | | | | fact that while drying it is often pressed |
| desserts. The most popular breads are | | | | with a weight and comes out looking flat. It |
| flavored with herbs, cheeses, and sun-dried | | | | is most often made with pork, but sometimes |
| tomatoes. An excellent dessert bread in | | | | beef is used. Another favorite Italian food |
| Italian food is the biscotti which means | | | | meat is garlic salami. The Italian food here |
| "twice baked". This popular dessert is more | | | | is also reliant on some of the prized |
| like a biscuit or cookie and is often | | | | vegetables of the area. Veneto is especially |
| flavored with almonds and spices. Fruit can | | | | known for their high quality red radicchio |
| be added to the biscotti and a popular choice | | | | and their asparagus. One last dish that is |
| is cherries. Biscotti are very versatile in | | | | unique to the area is a rice dish with young |
| Italian food, being served for breakfast with | | | | peas. |
| coffee or as an after dinner treat. | | | | |
| | | | The Italian food diet |
| The regional Italian food | | | | |
| | | | With Italian food diet, a great example of |
| As you move further south in Italy you will | | | | the fact that Italian food will not make you |
| find that the cuisine changes. In the south | | | | fat is in Sophia Loren. She told the world in |
| there is more fish used. Often this brand of | | | | her book that she grew up on spaghetti and |
| Italian food is called Mediterranean food. | | | | ate it constantly. She says that it is not |
| The dishes here are much lighter and are | | | | the pasta that makes you fat; it's what you |
| healthier in general. The people in the | | | | put on top of it. People who gain weight |
| southern half of Italy are amongst the | | | | eating Italian food typically do so not |
| healthiest in the world and it is due in | | | | because of the pasta, but because of creamy |
| great part to the types of Italian food that | | | | sauces like Alfredo sauce and because they |
| they eat. One of the reasons this Italian | | | | eat in too large portions. Italian food from |
| food is so healthy is because they use olive | | | | the Mediterranean doesn't rely on rich, thick |
| oil to cook most of their food in. | | | | sauces and uses olive oil instead of butter, |
| | | | making it very healthy. |
| On the Risotto and the Veneto region Italian | | | | |
| food | | | | Italian food is full of a variety of pastas |
| | | | and recipes that can keep you satisfied and |
| The Veneto region is also home to some unique | | | | healthy as long as you stay away from the |
| foods. The dishes here are heavier and rely | | | | heavy sauces and creams. |
| on exotic spices and sauces. One unique dish | | | | |