If your heart desires a warming dish that will make you feel satisfied and loved, there’s nothing better than Italian staple foods. Many winter food recipes will warm your soul, but none the way Italian winter recipes will.
If you ever wanted to know what Italians eat, we’ve got you covered. We’ll share the best Italian winter recipes with you that you’ll definitely want to make as soon as possible. The key to making these winter food recipes taste excellent is using seasonal produce.
And remember, it doesn’t have to be cold outside to enjoy tasty winter food; you can do it no matter the temperatures. You can eat comfort food any day you want.
We have to start our Italian winter recipes list with a soup, because what’s more appropriate? And it’s not any soup; it is the Minestrone, a traditional Italian soup that will make you feel better instantly. It’s made out of vegetables like onions, celery, carrots, tomatoes, and beans. The star ingredient of this soup is the short-shaped pasta, or you can use rice instead if you prefer. Minestrone is one of the best Italian staple foods, and it’s loved all across Italy and all around the world.
Another winter food, another soup, and this time it’s a traditional soup from Tuscany. Like many other delicious dishes now popular worldwide, Ribollita soup was once considered food for the poor. It’s packed with seasonal vegetables, like kale, carrots, and potatoes. And the most exciting ingredient is the stale bread, so this soup is also a great way to use up any bread that’s been lying on your counter for a few days. It was invented to use any leftover vegetables and stale bread so that nothing goes to waste.
This is not a typical soup you’re used to, but it’s one of the best Italian staple foods that you need to try. It is a perfect example of what do Italians eat, and if you have to try one soup from this list, try this one. You probably know what tortellini are; pasta dough filled with ham and cheese formed into an attractive shape. The tortellini is served in a warm broth full of incredible flavors. Two great things make one incredible.
If you like dumplings, you’ll love this soup. Canederli in brodo are bread dumplings that are served in a tasty broth. It’s another easy way to use up any leftover bread and avoid food waste. We had to include this winter food in our list of Italian staple foods because it’s the perfect winter food recipe. It has everything you need to warm up your soul and relax you after a hard-working day. The dumplings are made of stale bread mixed with eggs, cheese, and sometimes ham. You must soak the bread in milk before mixing it with other ingredients for extra creamy dumplings. The canederli are boiled in water and served in an aromatic broth.
We can’t make a list of Italian winter recipes without including one of the best Italian winter recipes, Ossobuco with Risotto Alla Milanese. Some will say that the ultimate winter food is a good and creamy risotto, and we will not argue with that. And this risotto is so aromatic and flavorful because it’s cooked with saffron. But this dish wouldn’t be the best if it wasn’t served with braised veal shank cooked in broth and white wine, with aromatics like bay leaf, garlic, parsley, and even cinnamon. This winter food recipe is the definition of a hearty meal.
This incredible recipe is perfect for the holiday season and when you have to feed many people. Everyone loves roast pork, and this one is infused with various herbs and garlic. Also, don’t forget to put some potatoes alongside the pork to collect the juices, you’ll thank us later. An addition to the juicy potatoes can always be cannellini beans.
If you are craving a hearty meat dish, you have to prepare this slow-cooked pork. If there is a dictionary with definitions of winter food dishes, the picture of this dish is alongside. It’s various pork cuts simmered with cabbage. Other vegetables are cooked alongside the pork, and the cabbage is added almost at the end of the cooking process.
We assume that you’ve already tried various Italian staple foods, like pasta with ragouts. But have you ever tried pappardelle with wild boar ragout? If you haven’t, you need to. If you ever choose to visit Italy in the fall or wintertime and end up in Tuscany, you must try this traditional dish. It’s only served during these two seasons, fall and winter. Please don’t skip on this meal, if you ever have a chance to try it.
One of the staple winter foods is potatoes, and it’s a must to prepare gnocchi with it. A dish like this is the perfect comfort food anytime you need it. You can serve them in any sauce that you like, simple or complicated. They are great when served only in melted butter with a few spices, but we recommend trying them in a gorgonzola sauce. Even if you are not a fan of this specific cheese and its tangy flavor, you’ll love it in this dish.
Polenta is one of the most known Italian staple foods. It’s not that famous worldwide, like pasta, but they will definitely mention polenta if you ask what do Italians eat. It’s made out of ground cornmeal boiled in water with a bit of butter and salt. The best way to serve polenta in the winter is with a hearty beef stew. Don’t forget to sprinkle a bit of parmesan on top of everything.
We must include a dessert in our list of great winter food recipes. Cioccolata calda is a type of hot chocolate. It’s different from the hot chocolate that you’re used to because it has more cocoa powder and less milk. It’s aromatic, dense, and heartwarming. It’s always better if you serve it with a lot of whipped cream.
Do you like our recommendation? Have you found something that is interesting for you? We know that you won’t get disappointed with whichever meal you choose to make from this list. Italian cuisine is known globally as one of the most heartwarming cuisines, and their recipes are perfect for this season. It will warm up your soul and make you feel that unique cozy holiday atmosphere.
Don’t worry if you don’t have time or are not that confident in the kitchen; you can still try incredible Italian-inspired dishes. You just need to pay us a visit at Mi’talia, where you can enjoy all of the typical Italian dishes made with a modern twist. A perfect place to enjoy your evening in a pleasant atmosphere while having delicious warming dishes.