Italian food is often discussed yet rarely understood.  There are plenty of half-truths and myths surrounding Italian cooking and food.  Let’s take a look at some intriguing Italian food facts you might not have known.

Garlic is not Used in Italian Food as Frequently as Most Assume
Though garlic bread is quite popular in Italian restaurants, garlic is not used in Italian food to the extent that most imagine.  Just about everyone agrees garlic bread tastes amazing yet real Italians typically eat plain bread, possibly with olive oil.  Contrary to popular opinion, real Italian bread is not to be soaked in garlic and butter.

There is no Italian Wedding Soup in Italy
No one is quite sure where the “Italian” part of Italian Wedding Soup originated.  It is likely Italian wedding soup resulted from the combination of American and Italian cuisine.  Though this soup, comprised of meat, veggies, and stock, tastes quite scrumptious, it is unavailable in the vast majority of restaurants in Italy.

Real Italians do not Order Pepperoni Pizza
Pepperoni pizza is certainly popular in America yet it is not a top-seller in Italy.  In fact, pepperoni, spelled with a single “P” after the initial “E” actually means bell pepper in Italian.  As a result, you could easily order pepperoni pizza in Italy and end up with pizza topped with peppers.

Italian Coffee is Different Than Most Imagine
Coffee with milk is typically consumed in the morning hours throughout Italy.  Espresso is the coffee of choice enjoyed after meals.

Bread is More Than an Appetizer
Bread is best used to soak up the additional sauce remaining on the plate after a dish of pasta.  Therefore, it is a mistake to strictly eat bread prior to beginning the meal.  Rather, bread should be saved until the final third of the dining experience of even the very end of the meal to mop up any leftover sauce.

Authentic Italian Pizza has Thin Crust
Pizza originated in Italy yet most are unaware the authentic version of this tasty delight does not have a thick crust.  Rather, real pizza has a thin crust.  So don’t be surprised if you are served up a pizza pie with smaller crust than expected – it is the Italian way.

Hundreds of Pasta Shapes Exist
All in all, more than 600 varieties of pasta are available across the globe.  This means there are all different pasta shapes available for myriad Italian dishes.  From curly spiral pasta to straight spaghetti, tubes/penne, ravioli pockets, and beyond, the list of pasta variations are seemingly endless.

Are you planning to prepare an authentic Italian meal? Do you want to have all the classic meats, pastas and sauce? What about Italian bread?  Italian bread is offered in an array of styles – from crispy and crunchy and light and fluffy. The fact is, no authentic meal would be complete without authentic Italian bread. However, are you unsure how to serve it? The fact is, there are multiple ways you can use Italian bread in your dish, with the top five highlighted here.

1. Make a Classic Italian Sandwich

There are several Italian breads that are ideal for making delicious sandwiches stacked full of Italian sausage, salami, pepperoni and more. One is the Muffuletta, with another being the Piadina. An even more popular option is ciabatta bread. While these breads have different densities and tastes, they both work great for a classic Italian sandwich.

2. Use Bread for Getting all the Sauce

When it comes to authentic Italian food, you don’t want to waste a morsel. As a result, you can have a flakey bread or even breadsticks served with your meal to ensure everyone can sop up all the sauce goodness left behind.

3. Make a Sweet Treat

While freselle isn’t technically a bread, it is still good enough to be added to this list. This is found in the southern regions of Italy and it can be used to make a great dessert or even an appetizer.

Many people top the bread with olive oil, basil and tomatoes, and some even soak it in water prior to eating it to make it softer.

4. Serve Bread to Accompany Soup

There’s no question that soup is commonly served during an Italian meal. Bread makes a great side item and is something you should include. Some people like to dip their bread in the soup, while others just eat along with the hot broth or past you have served. Even if they don’t necessarily eat the bread, it’s always nice to offer it with soup.

5. Make an Italian Pizza

What could be more Italian than pizza, right? You can use pane carasau or focaccia as your crust and make a delicious pizza. Everyone – kids and adults – are guaranteed to love the dish you create using this bread.

Are you ready to get cooking? While Italian cooking can seem overwhelming at first, it’s something that comes from the heart. Bread is a comfort food and something that should be a staple in any Italian meal. Be sure to use the tips here to find the perfect way to implement bread into your meal.