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