If you go to the restaurant it will certainly be useful to know the words of the food in Italian. Recognizing them will allow you to be able to order food in a restaurant or bar for try Italian cuisine and choose your favorite food according to your tastes and food preferences.
Knowing the words of food in Italian can also be a way to expand your vocabulary and learn new words and phrases in Italian, especially those related to Italian cuisine and gastronomy.
30 Best Italian Food Words that a stranger should know
- Pasta - a pasta dish is an Italian classic. Pasta is a fundamental element of Italian cuisine and there are many different types of pasta, such as spaghetti, penne, lasagna, fettuccine and many others. Pasta can be seasoned with tomato sauces, pesto, béchamel, meat sauce and many others.
- Pizza - the favorite dish of many around the world. It is one of the most famous and appreciated dishes of Italian cuisine and can be seasoned with various ingredients, such as mozzarella, tomato, mushrooms, ham, olives, sausage and many others.
- Gelato (Ice cream) - I Italian ice cream is famous worldwide for its creamy texture and intense flavor. There are many different flavors of ice cream, such as vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, pistachio, lemon and many more.
- Caffè Espresso (Espresso coffee) - a strong and concentrated coffee drink. Its name is due to the fact that coffee is served quickly, in a few seconds. Precisely, in fact, espresso.
- Prosciutto crudo - Parma ham is a type of cured raw ham, typical of Emilia-Romagna. It is often served as an appetizer or used to season pizza.
- Mozzarella - a fresh and soft cheese, often used on pizza. Very appreciated and loved the buffalo mozzarella typical of Campania.
- Parmiggiano (Parmesan) - a seasoned cheese, often grated on pasta dishes. Parmigiano Reggiano is one of the most famous cheeses of Italian cuisine and is used to season pasta, salads and many other preparations.
- Olio d’Oliva (Olive oil) - a widely used oil in Italian cuisine. The Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil is an Italian excellence recognized and appreciated worldwide.
- Pomodoro (Tomato) - an essential ingredient in Italian cuisine, especially for pasta sauces. The tomato of San Marzano dell'Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP is the excellence, is the true Italian pride.
- Bruschetta - The bruschetta is an Italian appetizer made of toasted bread seasoned with tomato, garlic and olive oil. Each Italian region boasts its own recipe for bruschetta, which, starting with a slice of crispy homemade bread topped with extra virgin olive oil and salt, is enriched with different ingredients.
- Pesto - Pesto alla genovese is a traditional Ligurian seasoning based on basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, Pecorino, garlic and oil. often used on pasta dishes.
- Focaccia - a type of Italian bread often seasoned with olive oil and salt and with the addition of rosemary. In Italy there are many variations both in the process and in the ingredients. Typical Italian focaccia are focaccia genovese, focaccia di Susa, focaccia barese and focaccia messinese.
- Lasagne - a layered pasta dish with meat sauce, béchamel and cheese. The origins of this dish date back to ancient Rome.
- Risotto - a dish of creamy rice often cooked with broth and Parmesan. This dish is originally from Veneto and has then spread throughout northern Italy and the rest of the Region in different versions from the original.
- Tiramisu - an Italian dessert spoon, made of ladyfingers, mascarpone, coffee and cocoa powder.
- Cannoli - a sweet Sicilian tube-shaped filled ricotta cream. The Sicilian cannolo is one of the most famous specialties of Sicilian pastry. The cannoli waffle is crispy while the inside is a soft cream enriched with candied fruit, chocolate chips, vanilla and/or cinnamon aroma.
- Limoncello - a sweet liqueur made with lemons typical of Campania. Very famous is the one produced in Campania using the lemon of Sorrento.
- Calamari (Squid) - a dish of shellfish, often served as an appetizer. They can be prepared in various ways: stuffed, baked, grilled, although the timeless classic are fried squid.
- Bistecca alla Fiorentina - a rare grilled steak served, typical of Tuscan cuisine.
- Aglio (Garlic) - one of the most used ingredients in Italian cuisine. It is often used as a sauté for a more intense flavor or put inside the preparation and then removed.
- Basilico (Basil) - one of the most used herbs in Italian cuisine, often used for pesto and bruschetta.
- Origano (Oregano) - a spice widely used in Italian cuisine, often used to season pizza and pasta.
- Rosmarino (Rosemary) - an aromatic herb used primarily for seasoning meat and potatoes.
- Peperoncino (Chili) - a spicy ingredient often used in Italian cuisine.
- Funghi (Mushrooms) - a versatile ingredient often used in sauces, sauces and pasta dishes.
- Vitello (Veal) - a tender meat often used in Italian cuisine.
- Polenta - a plate of corn flour often served with meat sauce.
- Zucchine (Zucchini) - a type of vegetable widely used in Italian cuisine, often sautéed or grilled.
- Melanzane (Eggplant) - another vegetable widely used in Italian cuisine, often fried or grilled.
- Ciabatta - a type of Italian bread in the shape of a slipper, recognizable by its crunchiness and the large honeycomb of the crumb.
