When people think of Italian cuisine, most think of pasta and pizza. However, there are many more dishes and influences that inspire those dishes. The history of the Italian people, as well as the geographic location of Italy, contribute to the types of food. Italian culture is shown through its cuisine.
There are around 20 regions in Italy and in each one you can find different types of food. Long ago it was difficult for Italians to travel to other regions within Italy. This resulted in different styles and ways of preparing food in each region, since few people were exposed to other types of cuisine. So even though Italy doesn’t seem to be a very large nation geographically, it still has a wide range of flavors.
Northern and southern Italy have a very different climate. The south has a very hot climate while in the north the climate is cold. Dry pasta, such as spaghetti and rigatoni, is found more in southern areas because it is easier to dry out in hot weather. Since dry pasta was more difficult to prepare in the north, pastas such as tajarin, pappardelle, and tagliatelle were more popular. Other popular types of pasta in the north were filled pasta such as ravioli.
The climate also affected the types of food and plants that could grow in Italy. Some plants, like olive oil, grew better in warmer climates, which is why olive oil was widely used in southern Italy. Olive trees did not grow well in the northern areas where it was cold. Butter and lard were used instead of olive oil.
Tomatoes are another type of plant that grows best in warm weather. In southern Italy cooking tomatoes are widely used in conjunction with red sauces. Broccoli raab and eggplants are two other types of plants that do well in warmer climates. Vegetables that thrive in cooler climates, such as in northern areas, are kale, radicchio, cardoons, and cabbage.
Along with the weather, the economy plays a role in Italian cooking. Another Italian staple older than pasta and pizza is polenta. It is commonly used today, but long ago it was popular with the poor in Italy. The polenta was easy to make and prepare in Italy.
Countries bordering Italy such as France and Austria also influence Italian cuisine. Other foreign influences include Spain, England, and the Arab countries. These countries occupied specific areas of Italy throughout history.
With all the different types of Italian food, it is important in Italian culture to savor and enjoy the different tastes. Meals are a major way for Italian families to bond by sitting down to a ten-course meal that could last around three hours. Since knowing the tastes is important and because there are so many dishes, the size of each dish is much smaller.
