The varied nature of Italian cuisine can mean that you’ll find many kinds of dishes at an Italian restaurant. Some Italian restaurants will serve food from different regions of Italy, which can be a nice way to sample the variety, but those restaurants tend to be more expensive.
Some restaurants will specialize in a single type of Italian food, such as pizza, and those tend to be cheaper and can be a fun way to try a specific type of Italian food.
Also, we previously talked about 25 mouth-watering Indian dishes that you may try as well.
That being said, let’s check out our 30 yummy Italian dishes in this listicle.
1. Cannelloni
Cannelloni is a type of large, tube-shaped pasta, traditionally filled with either meat or cheese and spinach and originating from Italy. The dish comes from the diminutive form of the Italian word cannelloni, meaning “little tube” or “little pipe”. The word cannelloni is plural; the singular is cannelloni (“big tube”).
2. Baked Cavatelli Pasta
Northern Italian Cavatelli pasta is a type of pasta that is shaped like small hollow half-spheres. The pasta is formed on a cavatelli board, which has small indentations on it. Cavatelli is typically served with roasted or braised meat, such as small game birds or wild boar, and with braised lentils.
3. Crostini
A crostini is a slice of bread that has been toasted and topped with a variety of spreads and toppings. They are made with various types of bread, such as baguette or ciabatta, and can be eaten alone or with a meal. The word crostini is derived from the Italian word crostata, which means tart.
4. Fried Sweet Italian Sausage
Fried Italian sausage is a traditional southern Italian dish that is made with pork and flavored with fennel, garlic, and other herbs and spices. The sausage is typically flavored with a large amount of fennel seeds in order to impart a sweet and spicy flavor. It is a popular dish to serve with fried eggplant, fried zucchini, and fried potatoes.
5. Stracciatella Ice Cream
Italian ice cream made from egg yolks and cream, flavored with chocolate and hazelnut, is a popular dessert in Italy. This dessert is often served in small cups or glasses, and with a small wooden spoon for eating.
6. Panelle
Panelle is a traditional Sicilian dish made with chickpea flour, water, and olive oil. It is a popular street food that is typically served for breakfast with a savory tomato sauce or a sweet honey sauce. The name is derived from the Italian word “pane”, which means bread.
7. Calamari
Calamari is a dish that is made from squid, a common dish in coastal Italian regions. In Italy, the preparation is generally fried with garlic, parsley, and breadcrumbs, but can also be served with a sauce.
8. Ricotta Tart
A ricotta tart is a traditional Italian dessert made from a filling of ricotta cheese, eggs, sugar, and sometimes cocoa powder. The filling is enclosed in a pastry shell, and the tart is typically baked until golden brown.
9. Spaghetti with Clams
Spaghetti with clams is a dish that is made with spaghetti, clams, olive oil, garlic, and parsley. The dish originates from Naples and is often made with the “Vongola Verace” clam, which is native to the Mediterranean Sea.
10. Salt Cod Fritters
Salt cod fritters are an Italian dish that is made with salt cod, flour, eggs, and other ingredients. The dish originates from Venice and is popular in coastal regions of Italy. The dish has made its way to the United States, where it is typically served with melted butter.
11. Pistachio Gelato
Italian gelato is a popular dessert in Italy, and there are many flavors that are associated with the country. Such flavors include pistachio, which is made with pistachio nuts.
12. Polenta
Polenta is a dish that is common in the Italian regions of Lombardy, Piedmont, and Veneto. It is made with cornmeal that has been cooked in water or milk, and it is typically eaten in lieu of pasta in the aforementioned regions. The dish is frequently topped with cheese or meat, or in the case of cornmeal in water or milk, it is served with butter.
13. Bruschetta
This Italian dish is made with slices of toasted bread that are topped with garlic, tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and other ingredients. The dish is frequently served in lieu of pasta in Italian dishes or can be eaten alone.
14. Osso Buco
Osso Buco is an Italian dish that is made with braised veal shank that is typically served with risotto Milanese. This dish has spread throughout the world and is commonly made with veal, lamb, or pork.
15. Italian Wedding Soup
This soup is made with meatballs, onion, celery, parsley, and other ingredients. It is frequently served in the United States and is associated with Italian-American cuisine.
16. Pizza Margherita
This pizza is made with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and extra virgin olive oil. It is frequently served in Italian restaurants and is associated with Italian cuisine.
17. Cannoli
This Italian dessert is made with a tube of fried pastry dough that is filled with sweetened ricotta cheese. The dish is typically topped with a small amount of chocolate or cocoa powder.
18. Chicken Parmigiana
This is an Italian dish that is made with breaded fried chicken, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese. It is typically served with spaghetti or other types of pasta.
19. Arancini
This dish is made with rice balls that are filled with mozzarella cheese, vegetables, or other fillings. It is typically served with tomato sauce.
20. Vitello Tonnato
This Italian dish is made with veal, tuna, mayonnaise, and anchovies. The dish is typically served cold with spaghetti or other types of pasta.
21. Stromboli
This dish is typically made with pizza dough that is rolled out thin, filled with cheese, salami, and other ingredients, and then rolled up into a log shape. The dish is then baked until crispy.
22. Margherita Pizza
Margherita pizza is a simple pizza that is made with sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. This type of pizza is named after Queen Margherita of Savoy, who is said to have approved of the pizza after it was presented to her in 1889.
23. Tiramisu
Tiramisu is an Italian dessert that is made with ladyfingers, espresso, mascarpone, and cocoa powder. It is frequently made with rum or brandy.
24. Cannoli Siciliani
Cannoli siciliani are Sicilian cannolis that are made with ricotta cheese, candied fruit, and chocolate chips that are wrapped in a fried doughnut-like pastry.
25. Venetian-Style Fettuccine
This dish is made with fettuccine noodles that are served in a cream sauce. It is typically served with shrimp and scallops.
26. Chicken Cacciatore
Chicken cacciatore is an Italian chicken dish that is prepared with white wine, tomatoes, onion, and bell peppers. It is typically served with pasta.
27. Lasagna
A favorite Italian dish, Lasagna is a must-try. It is made by baking sheets of pasta with a white sauce, ground meat, ricotta cheese, and parmesan cheese. It is served hot with grated parmesan cheese.
28. Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Peperoncino
A popular dish in Naples, this is made using spaghetti, olive oil, garlic, chili pepper, and parsley. It is very simple to prepare and usually eaten as an appetizer.
29. Pizza
A famous Italian dish, Pizza is the most famous Italian dish. It is made with tomato sauce, cheese, and other toppings. It is not baked in an oven but cooked on a flat surface made of stone heated by fire. This is an easy dish to make at home.