Getting Started With Itialian Cruisine

Italian Cooking 101
 

Italian cooking has become one of our most loved cuisines. Authentic Italian cuisine is about much more than pasta and sauce. There is a great deal of pride that goes into each dish, making the preparation of food extremely important. You don’t have to travel the world or go to a fancy cooking school in order to learn the art of Italian cooking. You just need to keep a few of the basics in mind and you will become an expert at preparing Italian meals in your own kitchen in no time. Let's take a look.

Ingredients

Italian dishes are made up of a variety of vegetables, meats, seafood, herbs, and seasonings. The vegetables you'll want on hand will include tomatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, garlic, celery, and flat leaf parsley. Olive oil and herbs, such as basil, oregano, thyme, marjoram, and rosemary, are staples in every Italian kitchen.

You'll want some cheeses, like Parmigiano-Reggiano, Parmesan, Asiago, and Ricotta on hand for many of the recipes you will want to make. Oh, and we mustn't forget the pasta, of course. The type of dish and the sauce will determine what kind of pasta you will use. Keep a variety on hand of the basic pasta styles just to be prepared.

Cookware

It’s important to remember that you don’t have to have cabinets full of fancy cookware and utensils to create an Italian style meal. You can start with the basics, which would include a very large pot for boiling pasta. Pasta needs a lot of room to move around in the boiling water so it doesn't get sticky, so be sure you have at least one big pot. You'll also need a large colander to drain the pasta once it is cooked.

You'll want a large heavy pot for making sauces. Be sure it has a heavy bottom to prevent the sauces from scorching easily. Wooden spoons are great for stirring big pots of sauce. Sharp knives and a large cutting board is a must for chopping fresh vegetables and herbs. A garlic press is helpful if you don't like the thought of chopping up lots and lots of little cloves of garlic. A large, deep rectangular baking dish is nice for making lasagne.

With that said, the truth is you don't really need the perfect cookware to make a good Italian meal. Get what you can afford when you can. Don’t get too overwhelmed at the thought of having the right cookware. You can make due with any pasta pot, colander, sauce pot, and some sharp knives to begin.

Techniques

Italian cooking involves a variety of methods. You might find a pot simmering away or something poaching in wine, broth, or sauce. There may be a deep fried dish or a saute. Then if you open the oven, you may find a big pan filled to the top with saucy, cheesy goodness.

When it comes to actual techniques, there are a few absolutes. One is to always cook the pasta 'al dente' which means it has a bit of bite left to it when it's done cooking. In order to do this right, bring a large pot of cold, salted water to a boil, then drop in the pasta, turn the heat down, and let the pasta simmer gently just until it's cooked but not soft. Drain the pasta and leave it alone. It doesn't need rinsing. The pasta will continue to cook slightly after it is drained so be sure to drain it while it is a bit on the chewy side of 'al dente.'

The other absolute when it comes to Italian cooking is to use the freshest and fewest ingredients possible. Many real Italian cooks believe that the fewer ingredients you use in a dish, the better the dish tastes.

Combining the flavors of four or five fresh ingredients together produces a true Italian eating experience. Putting a dozen or more ingredients in a pot together tends to confuse the flavors so nothing stands out and it's just a mish-mash of tastes that can't be identified. So less is best, and fresh is best.

The good thing about Italian cooking is that you can keep it as simple as you want and still come up with a delicious meal the whole family will love. Italian cooks view meal preparation and eating as a way to spend time with their family and friends. You can have the same experience by putting a few of these Italian cooking ideas to work in your kitchen.