Many people view Italy as a small country, but when it comes to authentic food, there is no denying Italian dishes bring a lot of variety to the table. With 20 different regions in the country — each with their very own culinary specialties — there is a little something for everyone. Using fresh ingredients and delightfully delectable seasonings, Italian dishes will indulge your taste buds all year long. Here is a look at a few of the best seasonal Italian food ideas that are sure to keep everyone pleased at your dinner table.
Winter
Neapolitan Meatballs and Chicken Bolognese are a part of any authentic Italian dinner table in the winter. Both of these dishes go great with a side of Really Low-fat garlic Bread, which substitutes healthy olive oil for regular butter that is usually overloaded in high-saturated fat. With the Chicken Bolognese you will be substituting lean ground chicken for the normal traditional ground beef, which makes the meal all the healthier.
Spring
Spring time in Italy is when you will want to spruce up all your favorite Italian dishes with fresh spring vegetables, such as artichokes. And don’t forget to make Spring Vegetable Soup with Pesto, providing you with a great way to enjoy squeeze in your daily dose of recommended veggies.
Summer
Once Memorial Day rolls around you have no excuse for firing up the grill and cooking up some hot Italian dishes. Fortunately, it is not that difficult to turn just about any dish into an Italian one. All you have to do is add a bit of Italian seasoning. Take for example that you are grilling Salmon. Why not add a bit of Italian salad dressing to it while you’re grilling and then serve with a side dish of melon panzanella salad? This will make for the perfect healthy meal. To add an extra dose of Italian zing to the salad, you can always mix in sizzled prosciutto, pine nuts, and a dash of Italian herbs.
Fall
When the fall weather comes around, it’s time to start taking advantage of meals that are quick and easy to make. After all, with school being back in session, you will likely be limited on the amount of time you have to cook. Thankfully, some of the most delicious Italian dishes can be prepared in under an hour. Even better is that many of them can be prepared on a make-ahead basis, including Fennel, Porcini, and Chicken Cacciatore. Providing your family with a rich source of vitamin C as well as fiber, this dish is extremely versatile and can be warmed up in under 10 minutes. If you want to add a healthy spin to the dish Italy is famous for — pizza — you can always add seasonal vegetables including butternut squash and pumpkin-infused tomato sauce.
There is a good chance you have never enjoyed genuine Italian dishes. Stop on in for dinner at L’amore Italian Restaurant to experience the taste of real Italian food.
