While there are many others who may fall for French or Chinese cooking, plenty of individuals around the world swear by the culinary altar of Italian cuisine as their favorite type of food to eat. From North and South America to the various nations of the Asia Pacific region, the food produced by Italy is consistently a fan favorite among food lovers. And if you happen to be one of those adoring fans, you should try out the tips below to begin your gastronomic education.

As previously stated, seasonality is the cornerstone of this particular European cuisine. When you intend on achieving Italian restaurant Houston quality levels of perfection, then you must always purchase fresh ingredients to create dishes, especially when it comes to herbs, proteins, fruits, and vegetables. This yields in better flavor as well as packing denser nutrients in meals.

Broaden your perception on pasta beyond the usual spaghetti as there are so many different kinds that you could use in your menu rotation. Aside from perfectly straight rods of spaghetti, other types of dried pasta feature a whole variety of forms from the corkscrew shaped fusilli to the adorable bowtie configurations of farfalle. Explore such varieties to make cooking more fun.

A familiar secret weapon that most people commonly associate or attribute to Italian dishes is the use of olive oil. Considered as a much healthier alternative to other cooking oils like butter or margarine, you can certainly indulge yourself with this type of fat that is good for your circulatory system. Utilize olive oil in place of other fats whenever possible to keep it healthy.

Italians pride themselves on cooking exceptional seafood owing to the fact that their country literally sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea. That being said, you should be unafraid to incorporate fish into your diet, as this source of protein is considerably leaner compared to land based meat sources. Grilled, steamed, or seared, your seafood possibilities are surely endless.

While sauces and dressings are an important element in Italian cooking, you must be aware of the fact that Italians use such aspects judiciously. For instance, they never drown their al dente pasta in tons of tomato sauce and topped with an obscene amount of grated cheese. They keep things simple yet delicious by adding just the right amount of sauce without going overboard.

Italy is not too shabby when the topic of desserts is part of the gastronomic conversation. They might not be at par with other countries like England or France who are known for their dessert prowess. But what they lack in variety, they surely make up for in unparalleled quality where they proudly showcase treats such as panna cotta, tiramisu, and gelato as their best offerings.

It is important to remember that you should make your mealtimes a sacred occasion since Italians respect food culture as a social activity. Their kitchens and dining rooms are lively places whenever people gather to eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Aspire to recreate that same atmosphere at home without unnecessary distractions like watching TV or checking your phone.

Gastronomic journeys into a specific type of cuisine can be a fun experience if you are the kind of individual who loves food. Discover the pleasures of eating like a true Italian by following the suggested guidelines mentioned in this post. Above all, enjoy the process and never be afraid to experiment with new flavor profiles that might just open your palate to a whole new world.