Italian cuisine is Mediterranean food based on different local ingredients, cooking methods and recipes, originated over the Italian peninsula since antiquity, and subsequently spread all over the world with massive waves of Italian immigrants. The influence of this ancient cuisine can be traced in various places including pasta, pizza, spaghetti, lasagna, soups, sauces and even desserts. This Italian food has a distinctively diverse history and is loved by people from all walks of life and across many age groups. The dishes are colorful, healthy, nutritious and tasty making it a choice of most dieticians and fitness conscious people and are available in Italian restaurants downtown Denver.
Italian cuisine regional styles have a number of common characteristics which set them apart from one another. The Italian people love to include meat, fish and seafood in their diets and this goes for the variety of dishes prepared using these ingredients. For example, the word "pasta" in Italian simply means vegetable and the word "ravioli" mean sauce. The Italian cuisines use a wide range of fresh vegetables like tomatoes, onions, herbs, mushrooms and even beans or other legumes, nuts, cheeses and grains to create mouth watering pasta dishes, spicy and flavorful pastas, creamy sauces for rice and desserts.
Italian cuisine, due to its large number of regional variations, uses a variety of ingredients and cooking methods to prepare the dishes. For example, risotto is an Italian dessert that is cooked using tomato sauce, butter and eggs. Italian sausage, spaghetti, lasagna and pizzas are different types of Italian dishes and are based on different ingredients like garlic, sausage, tomato sauce, cheese, milk, pepper and different herbs and spices. Chicken is another integral part of Italian cuisine and forms a large part of pasta dishes, meat sauce and vegetable dishes. Italian desserts such as chocolate cakes, banana nut cookies and biscotti are popular desserts and are made using a variety of recipes from all over the region.
Italian cuisine has its own blend of herbs and spices and these are widely used in the different dishes. Spices are mainly the base of many of the Italian dishes and they make a big difference to the taste. In Italy, herbs and spices are used extensively and include such varieties as oregano, basil, Rosemary, thyme, oregano, savory, curry and lemon zest. Each region in Italy has its own special style and variation in preparing dishes. For example in the wine bar, they use more garlic and wine to the regional specialists in Milan include more mints. Regional differences also include the fact that in Milan they prefer pizza and their desserts are more elaborate and are made with a number of fruits.
Apart, from regional variations, Italian cuisine also includes international influences and that is the reason why most of Italian dishes have such a strong international flavour. Italian cooking is greatly influenced by European cooking styles and techniques. This goes a long way to explain the wide range of ingredients like tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, butter, cheese and olive oil, among others. The famous Italian chef Mario Batali is well known for his use of a lot of these ingredients like onions, garlic, vinegar, tomatoes, etc. These have become staples of Italian cuisine and are slowly becoming an integral part of Italian cuisine all over the world.
Regional variations and regional differences in Italian food recipes also result from the climate of a particular region. Italian cooking in the South is different to Italian cuisine in the north. The main ingredient, olive oil, is commonly used in both the regions, but in different parts of Italy. So the local climate of a region can greatly influence the recipes and how it is prepared. This post: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_cuisine will help you understand the topic even better.
