I Love Italian Food

A curated directory of authentic Italian dishes and recipes.

Featured ✨

Lasagna alla Bolognese

Layers of pasta, rich meat ragù, béchamel sauce, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Pasta Dishes Classic Pasta Dishes Meat Dishes Emilia-Romagna

Featured ✨

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

Silky egg sauce with crispy guanciale, pecorino cheese, and freshly ground black pepper.

Pasta Dishes Classic Pasta Dishes Lazio

Acquacotta

A rustic Tuscan soup of simmered vegetables, bread, and eggs in aromatic broth.

Soups and Stews Tuscany

Acqua Pazza

Fresh white fish poached in a fragrant broth of tomatoes, herbs, and white wine.

Seafood Dishes Campania

Agnolotti del Plin

Small pinched pasta pouches filled with roasted meats and vegetables, served with a savory reduction.

Pasta Dishes Stuffed Pasta Piedmont

Antipasto Misto

A colorful assortment of cured meats, cheeses, marinated vegetables, and olives served as a starter.

Appetizers and Side Dishes

Arrosto di Agnello

Tender lamb roasted with herbs, garlic, and white wine until succulent and aromatic.

Meat Dishes Tuscany Regional Pasta Specialties

Arancini

Crispy fried rice balls stuffed with savory fillings, coated in golden breadcrumbs.

Appetizers and Side Dishes Sicily rice-dishes

Baccalà alla Livornese

Salt cod simmered in a vibrant tomato sauce with garlic, parsley, and Tuscan herbs.

Seafood Dishes Tuscany

Braciole

Thinly sliced beef rolled with herbs, cheese, and breadcrumbs, slowly braised in tomato sauce.

Meat Dishes Campania Sicily

Bigoli in Salsa

Thick whole wheat pasta tossed with a savory onion and anchovy sauce from Venice.

Pasta Dishes Classic Pasta Dishes Veneto

Bistecca alla Fiorentina

Thick-cut T-bone steak seasoned simply with salt and olive oil, grilled over high heat to rare perfection.

Meat Dishes Tuscany

Branzino alla Griglia

Delicate Mediterranean sea bass grilled with olive oil, lemon, and fresh herbs.

Seafood Dishes Liguria

Bucatini all'Amatriciana

Rich tomato sauce with guanciale and Pecorino Romano cheese tossed with hollow bucatini pasta.

Pasta Dishes Classic Pasta Dishes Lazio

Brasato al Barolo

Tender beef chuck slow-braised in prestigious Barolo wine with aromatic vegetables and herbs.

Meat Dishes Piedmont

Bruschetta

Toasted bread rubbed with garlic and topped with olive oil, tomatoes, and fresh basil.

Appetizers and Side Dishes Tuscany

Cacio e Pepe

A minimal Roman pasta dish featuring pecorino cheese and freshly ground black pepper.

Pasta Dishes Classic Pasta Dishes Lazio

Calamari Ripieni

Tender squid tubes stuffed with seasoned breadcrumbs, herbs, and cheese, simmered in tomato sauce.

Seafood Dishes Appetizers and Side Dishes Campania Sicily

Cannelloni di Carne

Pasta tubes filled with savory meat ragù, topped with béchamel and tomato sauce.

Pasta Dishes Stuffed Pasta Emilia-Romagna

Cannoli

Crispy fried pastry tubes filled with sweetened ricotta cheese, often studded with chocolate chips or candied fruit.

Desserts Sicily

Caponata

A classic Sicilian sweet and sour eggplant stew with capers, olives, and celery in agrodolce sauce.

Appetizers and Side Dishes Sicily

Carpaccio

Paper-thin slices of raw beef dressed with olive oil, lemon, and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Appetizers and Side Dishes Veneto

Cioppino

A hearty tomato-based seafood stew with fish, shellfish, herbs, and white wine.

Seafood Dishes Soups and Stews Liguria

Cotoletta alla Milanese

Tender bone-in veal cutlet, breaded and fried in butter until golden, served with lemon wedges.

Meat Dishes Lombardy

Fritto Misto di Mare

Lightly battered and fried assortment of fresh seafood, served crispy with lemon wedges.

Seafood Dishes Appetizers and Side Dishes Veneto

Focaccia

A dimpled flatbread enriched with olive oil, sea salt, and herbs baked to golden perfection.

Appetizers and Side Dishes Liguria

Fettuccine Alfredo

Fresh pasta ribbons tossed with butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano creating a silky, creamy sauce.

Pasta Dishes Classic Pasta Dishes Lazio

Gelato

A silky, slow-churned frozen dessert with intense flavor and less air than traditional ice cream.

Desserts Tuscany

Italian Polpette

Tender, savory meatballs of ground meat, breadcrumbs, herbs, and cheese, simmered in tomato sauce.

Meat Dishes Appetizers and Side Dishes Campania

Insalata Caprese

Fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and basil dressed with olive oil and sea salt.

Appetizers and Side Dishes Campania

Insalata di Polpo

Tender octopus dressed with olive oil, lemon, herbs, and Mediterranean aromatics.

Seafood Dishes Appetizers and Side Dishes Sicily

Linguine ai Frutti di Mare

Fresh linguine pasta tossed with an array of seafood in a light, garlicky wine and tomato sauce.

Pasta Dishes Seafood Dishes Classic Pasta Dishes Campania

Minestrone

A hearty vegetable soup with beans, pasta, and aromatic herbs in a rich tomato broth.

Soups and Stews Tuscany

Melanzane alla Parmigiana

Layers of fried eggplant, tomato sauce, and cheese baked until golden and bubbling.

Appetizers and Side Dishes Campania Sicily

Minestra Maritata

A hearty soup combining dark leafy greens and tender meatballs in rich broth.

Soups and Stews Campania

Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa

Ear-shaped pasta tossed with sautéed bitter turnip greens, garlic, olive oil, and chili flakes.

Pasta Dishes Regional Pasta Specialties Campania

Pansotti

Stuffed pasta crescents filled with herbs and ricotta, traditionally served with walnut sauce.

Pasta Dishes Stuffed Pasta Liguria

Ossobuco alla Milanese

Braised veal shanks with white wine, broth, and aromatic vegetables topped with gremolata.

Meat Dishes Lombardy

Panna Cotta

A silky, molded Italian dessert of sweetened cream set with gelatin.

Desserts Piedmont

Panzanella

Rustic Tuscan bread salad with tomatoes, basil, and olive oil-vinegar dressing.

Appetizers and Side Dishes Tuscany

Pappardelle al Cinghiale

Wide ribbon pasta served with a rich, slow-cooked wild boar ragù, infused with herbs and red wine.

Pasta Dishes Regional Pasta Specialties Meat Dishes Tuscany

Pasta alla Genovese

Fresh pasta tossed with authentic Ligurian basil pesto, potatoes, and green beans.

Pasta Dishes Classic Pasta Dishes Liguria

Pasta alla Norma

Sicilian pasta dish featuring tomato sauce, fried eggplant, ricotta salata, and fresh basil.

Pasta Dishes Regional Pasta Specialties Sicily

Pasta alla Puttanesca

Spaghetti tossed with tomatoes, olives, capers, anchovies, and garlic in a bold, savory sauce.

Pasta Dishes Classic Pasta Dishes Campania

Pasta con le Sarde

Fresh sardines and wild fennel with pasta, raisins, pine nuts, and saffron in a Sicilian tradition.

Pasta Dishes Seafood Dishes Regional Pasta Specialties Sicily

Pasta e Ceci

Hearty pasta and chickpea soup enriched with aromatics in a velvety tomato-infused broth.

Pasta Dishes Soups and Stews Lazio

Pasta Primavera

Fresh seasonal vegetables and pasta tossed in a light sauce with herbs and Parmesan cheese.

Pasta Dishes Appetizers and Side Dishes Veneto

Pasta e Fagioli

A rustic, hearty soup combining pasta, beans, vegetables, and herbs in a savory broth.

Soups and Stews Tuscany Veneto

Penne all'Arrabbiata

Spicy tomato sauce with garlic, red chili peppers, and olive oil tossed with al dente penne pasta.

Pasta Dishes Classic Pasta Dishes Lazio

Pesce al Forno

Fresh fish baked with olive oil, herbs, white wine, and potatoes in traditional Ligurian style.

Seafood Dishes Liguria

Pollo al Marsala

Tender chicken cutlets in a rich, silky sauce of Marsala wine and mushrooms.

Meat Dishes Sicily

Pollo alla Cacciatora

Rustic braised chicken with tomatoes, herbs, and wine in the traditional hunter's style.

Meat Dishes Tuscany

Pollo Piccata

Tender chicken cutlets sautéed and served with a bright lemon-caper sauce and butter.

Meat Dishes Lombardy

Porchetta

Boneless pork roast stuffed with herbs, garlic, and spices, rolled and slow-roasted until crispy.

Meat Dishes Lazio Tuscany

Ravioli di Ricotta e Spinaci

Delicate pasta pillows filled with creamy ricotta cheese, spinach, and aromatic herbs.

Pasta Dishes Stuffed Pasta Emilia-Romagna

Ribollita

A hearty Tuscan soup made with bread, cannellini beans, vegetables, and aromatic herbs.

Soups and Stews Tuscany

Risi e Bisi

Creamy Venetian rice dish with fresh spring peas, broth, and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Risotto Dishes Veneto Appetizers and Side Dishes

Risotto ai Funghi Porcini

Creamy Arborio rice slowly cooked with rich porcini mushrooms, white wine, and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Risotto Dishes Lombardy Piedmont

Risotto alla Milanese

Creamy saffron-infused rice dish cooked with broth, butter, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Risotto Dishes Lombardy

Risotto al Nero di Seppia

Creamy Venetian rice dish blackened with squid ink and enriched with fresh seafood.

Risotto Dishes Seafood Dishes Veneto

Risotto Primavera

Creamy Arborio rice cooked with fresh spring vegetables, broth, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Risotto Dishes Lombardy

Risotto alla Pescatora

Creamy Arborio rice cooked with fresh seafood, white wine, and fish broth.

Risotto Dishes Seafood Dishes Veneto

Saltimbocca alla Romana

Tender veal cutlets layered with prosciutto and sage, sautéed in white wine and butter.

Meat Dishes Lazio

Sfogliatella

Flaky, shell-shaped pastry filled with sweet ricotta, semolina, and citrus.

Desserts Campania

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Simple yet flavorful pasta with garlic-infused olive oil, chili flakes, and fresh parsley.

Pasta Dishes Classic Pasta Dishes Campania

Stracciatella alla Romana

Delicate strands of egg and Parmigiano-Reggiano suspended in a rich, savory broth.

Soups and Stews Lazio

Tagliatelle al Ragù (alla Bolognese)

Fresh egg pasta ribbons served with a slow-simmered meat sauce from Bologna.

Pasta Dishes Classic Pasta Dishes Emilia-Romagna

Spaghetti alle Vongole

Fresh clams simmered with garlic, white wine, and parsley tossed with al dente spaghetti.

Pasta Dishes Classic Pasta Dishes Seafood Dishes Campania

Tiramisù

Layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone cream, and cocoa powder.

Desserts Veneto

Tortellini in Brodo

Delicate meat-filled pasta parcels served in a rich, clear chicken and beef broth.

Classic Pasta Dishes Stuffed Pasta Soups and Stews Emilia-Romagna

Trofie al Pesto

Short, twisted pasta tossed with fresh basil pesto, potatoes, and green beans in Ligurian tradition.

Pasta Dishes Regional Pasta Specialties Liguria

Vitello Tonnato

Thinly sliced cold veal topped with a creamy tuna-flavored sauce, served as an elegant antipasto.

Meat Dishes Appetizers and Side Dishes Piedmont

Zuppa di Pesce

A flavorful Italian seafood soup with mixed fish, shellfish, and aromatics in a rich tomato broth.

Soups and Stews Seafood Dishes Campania

Zuppa Toscana

A hearty Tuscan soup featuring Italian sausage, potatoes, and kale in a savory cream broth.

Soups and Stews Tuscany