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Italian food is renowned, and you can find it almost everywhere in the world. But nothing compares to authentic food from the streets of Italy. Pizza, pasta, and gelato are (of course) on this list, but Italian food goes far beyond these.
Let’s work up an appetite! Here are the best foods to try in Italy!
Tiramisu
Tiramisu is one of my favorite foods of all time! And I eat WAY too much of it every time I’m in Italy. This dessert is made of ladyfingers dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of eggs, sugar and mascarpone cheese, flavored with cocoa.
This is a decadent and filling dessert, and the portions are usually very generous in Italy. So, either leave plenty of room for it, take some of it to-go, or split it.
Mussels
Mussels are a popular dish, especially in Southern Italy and, specifically, in Naples. You’ll usually find mussels served in a slightly spicy tomato sauce or a sweeter and lighter white wine sauce. Either way, you’re in for a treat. Pro Tip: make sure your crostini soaks in plenty of your sauce before you eat it.
Carbonera
Carbonara is a simple recipe – eggs, noodles, cheese, and pork – but it’s challenging to master. For this iconic dish, I recommend getting a restaurant recommendation from a local to ensure you get the truly authentic version of the meal.
Ribollita
This is a hearty potage made with bread, beans, kale, cabbage, carrots, beans, chard, celery, potatoes, and onion. You’ll find ribollita on every menu in Tuscany, and it’s popular in other parts of Northern Italy.
Pizza
Even though I’m sure pizza was already on your must-try list, you can’t talk about Italian food without including pizza. There are so many pizza variations – from crusts to toppings to cheeses – that you’d do yourself a disservice if you didn’t try a different pizza every place you went.
Truffles
Most people either love or hate truffles. These edible fungi can be polarizing, but they’re an iconic food to try when you’re in Italy. I don’t like the flavor of truffles on their own, but I enjoyed the experience of tasting one none the less.
Italy’s famed white truffles are some of the most highly valued truffles in the world, but they can break the bank. So, I recommend trying truffles as part of a food tour or cooking class where the truffle price is already included.
Scallops
The best scallops I had in Italy were in Venice, but you’ll find this delectable dish throughout the entire country. Italian scallops are usually pan-seared in herb butter white wine sauce, but I had a salsa verde scallop meal in Naples that made me want to try all versions of this meal.
Limoncello
Limoncello
Yes, I know this is a drink and not a food, but it’s my favorite drink EVER. The best limoncello is in Sorrento (trying it is one of the Best Things You Can Do In Sorrento), but if you’re not going to the Amalfi Coast, try this beverage anywhere you can. Limoncello is made by infusing Sorrento lemon peels in vodka. Then it’s strained, mixed with sugar syrup, and chilled.
Risotto
Risotto is the most common way of cooking rice in Italy. The rice is cooked with broth (that can come from meat, fish, or vegetables) until it reaches a creamy consistency, then butter, onion, white wine, and parmesan cheese are mixed in.
Gelato
The variety of gelato in Italy never ceases to amaze me, and the best gelato I ever had was in Florence at a place called Vivoli. The gelato here is worthy of being one of the Top Things To Do In Florence.
Don’t be too hard on yourself about all the gelato you’ll be eating. Just remind yourself you’re doing way more walking in Italy than you probably do at home.
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What do you think are the best Italian foods? Tell us in the comments so we can “dish” about our favorite meals!
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