Food of Italy
144 traditional dishes · Europe
Cities & regions of Italy
Margherita Pizza
Naples' classic pizza — tomato, mozzarella and basil on a blistered wood-fired crust.
Tiramisù
Coffee-soaked ladyfingers layered with whipped mascarpone and dusted with cocoa — Italy's most exported dessert.
Spaghetti Carbonara
Rome's iconic pasta of egg, pecorino, guanciale and black pepper — silky and rich, and famously made without cream.
Bistecca alla Fiorentina
Florence's iconic thick-cut Chianina steak, grilled rare over open coals and sold by weight.
Pesto alla Genovese
Basil, pine nut and pecorino sauce tossed through pasta.
Porchetta
Herb-stuffed boneless pork roast with crackling skin.
Ravioli
Stuffed pasta pillows in butter and sage or sauce.
Savoiardi
Savoiardi is a beloved cookie, traditional to Italy.
Spaghetti alle Vongole
Spaghetti tossed with clams, garlic, white wine and parsley.
Cynar
Cynar is a bittersweet Italian artichoke-leaf digestivo, born in 1952 and now a classic Italian digestif and Spritz base.
Frittelle di Riso di San Giuseppe
Roman rice fritters fried for the Feast of Saint Joseph on 19 March — pear-shaped, custardy inside, dusted in powdered sugar.
Mpanatigghi
Rooted in Italy, Mpanatigghi is a cookie enjoyed for generations.
Parmigiano Reggiano
The "King of Cheeses" — aged, crystalline and endlessly savoury.
Gelato
Denser, silkier and more intense than ice cream — Italy's frozen pride.
Lasagne alla Bolognese
Layered sheets of pasta, slow ragù and béchamel baked until bubbling.
Burrata
A mozzarella pouch that spills cream when you cut it.
Cacio e Pepe
Three-ingredient Roman pasta of pecorino, pepper and starchy water.
Cannoli
Crisp fried shells piped with sweet ricotta cream.
Gelato al Pistacchio
Gelato al Pistacchio is a beloved ice cream, traditional to Italy.
Gelato Alla Vaniglia
Gelato Alla Vaniglia is a traditional ice cream from Italy.
Penne Lisce
Penne lisce are smooth, plain Italian quill pasta whose unridged surface suits light oil, tomato and cheese sauces, a versatile Campanian home staple.
Penne Strascicate
Rooted in Italy, Penne Strascicate is a pasta enjoyed for generations.
Ricotta di Bufala Campana
Ricotta di Bufala Campana counts among the traditional food of Italy, a cheese locals hold dear.
Strega
Hailing from Italy, Strega is a much-loved liqueur.