8 Reasons Why Italian Food Is So Popular Around the World
No matter what country you visit you can be assured of one thing: There will be an Italian restaurant. Italian food is prevalent everywhere. And while French cuisine is considered the pinnacle of sophistication, Italian dishes are equally delicious but more popular and approachable. The main factors that make Italian cooking so popular worldwide are its simplicity, quality, health benefits, variety, affordability, and taste. We all admit that the ingredients used in Italian recipes are of fantastic quality, whether it’s bread or mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and parmesan; the ingredients are quality products. Their simplicity makes them readily available and less complicated to use; this is also connected to their affordability. A bowl of pasta or a slice of pizza won’t put a hole in your pocket and, at a fair price, you have a varied choice of pasta and pizzas that always taste amazing.
There is no ambiguity that Italian food is one of the most widespread cuisines in the world. But it’s more trendy in the west, where most restaurants have at least one Italian dish — such as pasta or pizza — on the menu. There is entirely so much variety, and every meal tastes fantastic. Italian dishes are cooked in various styles and are commonly made with olive oils, vegetables, cheeses, and wines. But when it comes to vegetables, tomatoes are one of the essential ingredients of Italian cuisine. Tomatoes are used in almost every kind of Italian dish, from pasta to pizzas to salads. Italian food is satisfying and simple without being heavy. It’s rich, textural, and uses a full palette of flavors.
Why is Italian food so admired around the world? There are at least five great reasons, as you are about to discover.
1. Variety
Italian cuisine offers a wide variety for you to choose from. Italy’s famous food includes cold meats and cheeses, pasta, sandwiches, risotto, Bruschetta, ravioli, and so much more. There is something for everyone. If you have a craving for some home-cooked Italian recipe, head over to Italian family food to get the world recipes and meals all in one place!.
Italy is far from a uniform country to start with; the differences between North and South can be exceptional. But every city has a different character, dialect, and, of course, local recipes.
The first consequence of this variation is that the number of local cuisines and ingredients is astounding. There’s a lot to choose from! The second consequence is that this diversity makes Italian cuisine for exportation. If pizza, a signature Naples delicacy, can triumph in Milan, then it’s ready to take over the world.
2. Imagination
If you ask Italians what their most valuable trait is, they’ll probably say their imagination. And they may be correct. Italians always find an unusual angle or a different way to do things from art to football and design.
This ability extends to the kitchen, where Italians hit the right balance between creativity and simplicity. Take risotto alla Milanese, for example. This creamy rice dish is not hard to make, but the fantastic addition of saffron takes it to another almost legendary level.
3. Foreign But Familiar
Something funny occurs with Italian cuisine: It’s both foreign and familiar. This happens because many Italian foods are the result of the change of non-Italian ingredients. For example, Italians learned from the Turks how to enjoy coffee, an essential part of tiramisu. Tomatoes were initially a Mexican product, but Italian cuisine as we know it today would be unimaginable without them. Italians borrow, adapt, and create, and when their culinary inventions reach other countries, they feel both familiar and surprising — the secret recipe for success.
4. Simple Yet Satisfying
Indeed, the evolution from uncertainty to ubiquity was made possible by the powers of globalization. Still, the simplification — or as some may say, bastardization — also played an essential role in Italian cuisine. Primary carriers like pasta, pizza, and panini were cheap ways to build a hearty meal while including traditional ingredients and new ingredients readily available in cities like New York and Boston. At the same time, these foods’ rustic roots imbue them with a certain comfort that curries near-universal appeal.
5. Focused on Fresh Ingredients
Like the cooking of Italian grandmothers everywhere, authentic Italian cuisine relies on the freshest, often local, ingredients. Eating fresh, not frozen vegetables, pasta, and seafood is healthier because there are fewer processed ingredients. Take pasta, for instance. Fresh pasta is prepared from flour, egg, and water. That’s it! No excess fat, hydrogenated oils, or chemicals you can’t pronounce.
6. Not All Italian Foods are High in Calories
People think that all Italian food is high in calories, but it’s not! There are many tasty Italian dishes low in calories too. White bean soup, Bruschetta, salad, and pasta with red sauce are all lower calorie alternatives if you try to maintain a healthy diet. Italian cuisine is a Mediterranean type of cuisine that is considered and rated the best cuisine ever! Italian cuisine involves eating many vegetables, fruit, cereal, fish, and in particular white meat. In addition, an essential element is a fact that Italians use olive oil for cooking in significant quantities instead of animal fat.
7. Desserts — the “sweet” Italy
Apart from the apparent dishes of Italian cuisine such as pasta, antipasti, or lasagna, Italy also has a sweet tooth. The Italian food list would be incomplete without the feasting on the delicious desserts that leave us licking the spoon! Similar to the other Italian dishes, their desserts also differ from place to place. After tantalizing your taste buds with some delectable lasagna or pasta, you should soothe them with sweet and creamy Sicilian cannoli. The balance of texture and flavor feels heavenly!
Whether you are in the mood of calming your taste buds with the Venetian-born tiramisu (famous Italian dessert) or enticing them with the mouth-watering Florentine beefsteak, Italian cuisine always has something for every mood. Aside from the other reasons that justify Italian cuisine as the best in the world, the reason that is usually overlooked is that cooking Italian dishes is super easy!
8. Wine is Part of the Meal
It comes as no wonder that Italian restaurants famous for serving Italian dishes come with a vast wine selection. One of the unique qualities of Italian cuisine is the addition of wine during the meal. Sipping wine significantly improves the flavor of every dish served. There is a unique wine that goes with any Italian food. Next time, don’t forget to ask your favorite Italian restaurant for the best wine to be paired with your dish of choice.
Eating Italian foods does not have to come at the cost of staying healthy. Different Italian foods offer a good source of beans, vegetables, and whole grains.
The next time you hit an Italian restaurant, think about how you can make the best choices possible and enjoy your meal guilt-free! You deserve it!