Italian kitchen is very famous for its iconic dishes and pasta that everyone loves. Each year they produce and consume over twenty-five kilos of pasta per person. There are over 300 shapes of this dish, such as spaghetti and rigatoni. You can find different regional varieties and combinations of ingredients, and try various simple or elaborate sauces. There is something for everyone’s taste and you can be sure you’ll find pasta that you like.
Here are some of the best Italian traditional pasta dishes you can order in restaurants or make at home.
1. Spaghetti Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino
This is one of those ‘empty larder’ recipes you can easily make at home. You just need some good quality Italian olive oil in order to make great pasta. First, the garlic should become golden brown after simmering in your pan with the oil. After that is done, add some chili and drain the spaghetti with flavored oil. You can add some parsley if you want.
2. Spaghetti al Pomodoro
Spaghetti al Pomodoro is one of the Italian chefs’ favorite meals to make. You need to use fresh and tasty sun-ripened tomatoes and be careful not to overcook them. You can use good quality tinned peeled tomatoes as well. Add some garlic as well as fresh basil leaves. You can put a few basil leaves on top to decorate your Mediterranean dish.
3. Fettuccine al Pomodoro
This pasta is quite similar to spaghetti al Pomodoro. This is a thin egg pasta where you put some rich tomato sauce that you cooked slowly beforehand. To add the flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan, or if you prefer the Grana Padano cheese you can use that one as well.
4. Pesto
This pasta is green color because of the special combo of fresh basil leaves, little bit of garlic, pine nuts, coarse salt, some grated Pecorino and Parmesan as well as a small amount of delicate extra virgin olive oil. You need to be careful and not ‘heat’ the raw ingredients. The famous pesto sauce can be put over spaghetti or trenette. You can even add potatoes and green beans.
5. Spaghetti Alla puttanesca
This is a great ‘last minute’ recipe that is very popular in Naples and Southern Italy. Spaghetti Alla puttanesca is an upgraded version of spaghetti al Pomodoro. This meal includes capers, oregano as well as the amazing and tasty black Gaeta olives. You can also add anchovies and chili.
6. Amatriciana
This dish includes Pecorino cheese and guanciale. You can use the Amatriciana sauce both with long and short pasta. Add tomato sauce, some garlic or onion.
7. Carbonara
This dish is one of the classics everyone needs to try out. The main ingredient is egg yolk, mixed with Pecorino cheese or with Parmesan. Add some crispy pork and put the sauce over spaghetti, rigatoni or penne. The sauce should be very creamy, smooth and rich yellow.
