Culinary traditions change every year; however, there are a few timeless dishes that never go out of style! Here are some classic Italian dishes for the holidays.
- Abruzzo (Minestra Di Cardi)
Otherwise known as Cardoon Soup, it’s a soup consisting of broth and artichoke thistles (cardoons). It’s flavored with nutmeg and giblets, making for a delicious side or appetizer.
- Basilicata (Baccala Con Peperoni Cruschi)
Basilicata or Cod with fried peppers is a plate of cod topped with sun dried bell peppers that have been dropped into hot oil. It’s a very flavorful codfish that too makes a great side.
- Calabria (Scillatelle Al Ragu)
Calabria is essentially homemade pasta with meat sauce. To start, homemade pasta is nothing like the store-bought pasta. It’s chewier, thicker, and much fresher and when topped with a flavorful meat sauce, this dish is to die for.
- Campania (Minestra Maritata)
Campania or “Married” Soup combines a beaten egg, hot pepper, veal, chicory, escarole, and a capon broth. This is as authentic and classic as Italian food gets in a soup. It’s dynamic with a slight spicy flavor with meat that just melts in your mouth.
- Emilia Romagna (Tortellini in Brodo)
Italians can appreciate a clean soup to wet their appetites. A must, Tortellini in Broth is prepared with egg pasta rolled into a thin wrapper to wrap small pieces of a meat-based filling. These are then cooked and served in a broth.
- Friuli Venezia Giulia (Brovada E. Muset)
Turnips and Sausage is your typical Italian winter dish with pickled turnips and sausage. This makes for a hardy and flavorful dish.
- Lazio (Abbacchio Al Forno Con Patate)
Lazio features lamb braised with garlic, rosemary, vinegar, and anchovies. This would be the main course of an Italian family’s Christmas dinner and a flavorful one at that!
- Liguria (Cappon Magro)
This ancient recipe features fish and a bed of vegetables. For those waterside villages in Italy, this would be a common dish prepared on Christmas.
- Lombardia (Cappone Ripieno)
Stuffed Capon is made with ground meat, egg, Parmesean cheese, and mortadella. It’s served with mostarda di Cremona which is a spicy candied fruit condiment. This is one flavorful main dish for Italian families living further away from the ocean.
- Marche (Vincisgrassi)
Marche Lasagna is a baked pasta dish to serve as a side or main dish made with ground beef, sausage, chicken, cured prosciutto ham, and mushrooms.
If you’re not from Italy and looking for a change to your Christmas traditions, try some Italian traditional food such as these recipes. If you’re afraid to give them a try at home, visit Quattro in Boston for some classic Italian dishes for the holidays. Perhaps, try Nonna’s Pasta e Fagioli with pancetta, prosciutto, and fagioli cannellini. It’s delicious and a great taste of classic Italian cooking! Call us today to book your reservation!