Italian Cuisine, Flavors of Italy

A Mediterranean diet and healthy Italian cuisine makes you live longer.

Italy, the country known today had not officially formed until the 19th century, the Italian cuisine can claim their roots going back as far as 4th century BC.  Italian cuisine has evolved through centuries of political and social changes. When the New World was discovered significant changes occurred, and helped mold much of what is known as Italian cuisine.  The incorporation of potatoes, tomatoes, bell pepper and maize to the Italian cuisine all central parts of this cuisine but not introduced in this scale until the 18th century has shaped the food.

Conquerors, high-profile chefs, political upheavals had various influences throughout the centuries, and including neighboring regions, also the discovery of the New World. A concrete cuisine has formed to what is known today as Italian cuisine as one of the premiere cuisines in the world.

The country of Italy was only unified in 1861, and Italian cuisine is extremely varied which reflects the cultural diversity of its regions and its diverse history, including culinary influences from Roman, Greek, Norman, and Arab civilizations. A prime example of the Mediterranean diet, is tomatoes and olive oil. Italian cuisine is regarded and imitated all over the world for it's robust flavour. As a general rule, northern and southern Italian cuisines are differentiated primarily by the cooking fat and style of pasta commonly used. Northern Italian cuisine is characterized by less use of olive oil, pasta and tomato sauce and more use of butter or lard, rice, corn for polenta and chesses for cream sauces. Northern Italian cuisine is famous for polenta and risotto, and the Southern Italian cuisine is known for seafood dishes, pizza and dark rich olive oil.

Ingredients and dishes vary by region, and cheese and wine are also a major part of the cuisine. There are many significant regional dishes that have become both national and regional.

Structured into several sections an Italian meal would include antipasto, the appetizer, primo, the pasta or rice dish, secondo a meat course, and dolce a great dessert. Known for more then 400 kinds of cheeses, Italy and the famous Parmigianino Reggiano, plus over 300 types of sausages, the Evolution of Italian Cuisine is an adventure of taste, ingredients, and flavoring techniques. Italy is famous all over the world for its rich and varied cuisine. Italian cuisine is an important part of Italian culture and the "Traditional Italian Cuisine" is not restricted to "old world" ingredients, but is taking what is found locally and creating an italian flavor.

If Italian Cuisine is about the Italian it is so only in a very restricted sense. Perhaps a great surprise and what is known as "Italian cuisine" is actually a galaxy of regional cuisines. Every region in fact has its cuisine, contributing to the broader one with its own dishes.

Italy is a country of a hundred cuisines and thousands of recipes dating back as far as the Middle Ages that are identifiably Italian. The rich history of "Italian Cuisine", and the ingredients, dishes, techniques, and social customs behind the Italian food that are loved today. Italian cuisine enables people of all countries to live longer through the Italian enginuity of incorporating healthy ingrediants with love and care.