Classics of Italian cuisine

These dishes are a sure-fire success. Twelve classics of Italian cuisine make every dinner invitation a special occasion.

Many people have grown up with pasta and pizza and love them. Italian dishes appeal equally to flexitarians and vegetarians. They combine the simplest ingredients and turn them into a culinary delight. Anyone who has ever cooked these dishes knows that these recipes require love and sun-ripened ingredients. They boast the most wonderful names. Here is a quick quiz from Milan to Palermo.

1. Which ingredients form the perfect appetiser?
2. Which dish is made up of many layers?
3. What is a blend of bacon and egg?
4. What is the roundest thing to leave the oven?
5. What lands in hot oil?
6. Which vegetable gets baked in the oven?
7. What loves to bathe in sauce?
8. What literally jumps into your mouth?
9. What is stirred into a wonderful yellow creaminess?
10. Which bones are served slow-cooked?
11. What is the sweetest Sicilian temptation?
12. What melts in the mouth?

ANSWERS

Antipasti

1. Bruschetta combines the freshness of tomatoes with the spiciness of toasted bread and garlic.

Primi piatti

2. Lasagne, emerging juicy and steaming from the oven, is a work of art and the classic dish of Bologna.

3. Spaghetti Carbonara represents a cuisine that is both simple and incredibly tasty.

4. Pizza Margherita has taken the world by storm.

5. Arancini, the indescribably good rice balls from Sicily, demonstrate the diversity of Italian cuisine.

6. Parmigiana di Melanzane showcases the richness of aubergine, a member of the nightshade family.

Secondi piatti

7. Ravioli, usually square or semicircular, are particularly popular with children. One vegetarian option is ravioli filled with mozzarella and vegetables, served in a mild tomato sauce or with butter and cheese.

8. Saltimbocca alla romana, the traditional meat dish of Rome’s cuisine.

9. Risotto alla Milanese gets its intensive colour from saffron.

10. Ossobuco alla Milanese may not be to everyone’s taste but is an epicurean treat.

Dolci

11. Cannoli, the little pastry tubes with the delicious filling, call out for an espresso.

12. Gelato is a world of its own, with everyone having a favourite flavour.