Italian Culture and Cuisine, Italy (culture Cuisine)

T/F: Pasta should be tested for doneness starting 2 minutes before shortest cooking time listed on package.

True

Is the lighter meal typically eaten mid-day or in the evening in Italy?

In the evening.

What does the country of Italy call their land divisions (like our states)?

Provinces or regions.

Even though southern Italy is dry, stony, and mountainous, many people still have this occupation.

Farming

Is pasta usually served before or after the main meal?

Before

What religion are most Italians?

Catholic

What two items are served with every course of an Italian meal?

Bread and wine.

The roots of Italian cooking come from ancient _________________.

Romans

What are popular dessert items in Italy?

Fruit and cheese.

Who is credited with bringing many of the spices we associate with Italian cooking from the Far East?

Marco Polo

What food item is typically associated with Asian cuisine, but is also found in Italian cooking?

Rice

What color were tomatoes when they were first introduced to Italy from the "New World"?

Yellow

What were tomatoes called because they were believed to stimulate love?

A love apple.

Did most of the Italian's who migrated to America in the early 1900's come from Northern or Southern Italy?

Southern

What is the capital of Italy?

Rome

What is typical of cooking in Southern Italy?

Olive oil is the main fat used and tomato sauces with seasonings are very popular.

What do Italians typically have for breakfast?

Bread, jam, and coffee or latte.

What is pesto?

A sauce originally made using a mortar and pestle consisting of basil, parmesan cheese, olive oil and sometimes pine nuts.

When is coffee usually served during an Italian meal?

After the meal.

What does "alla Parmigiana" mean?

Made using parmesan cheese.

Italian for "hello" or "goodbye"

Ciao

"Before the meal"

antipasto

Vegetable soup containing pasta or rice.

Minestrone

Flat Italian bread baked in a jelly roll pan.

Focaccia

Rich, strong coffee

Espresso

Popular herb in Italian cooking.

Oregano

Twice baked Italian cookie great for dunking in a latte.

Biscotti

Dry, uncooked, cured ham often cut into very thin slices and served with melon.

Prosciutto

A rectangle of dough rolled around meats, cheeses and vegetables then baked in the oven.

Stromboli

"To the tooth" pasta cooked NOT overcooked

al dente

Tubes of crisp pastry filled with sweetened ricotta cheese filling and often chocolate or candied fruit.

Cannoli

Tomato sauce popular in Southern Italy.

Marinara

Describe Parmesan cheese.

Hard, crumbly, difficult to slice, strong flavor. The longer it ages, the drier and crumblier it becomes.

List herbs typically used in Italian cooking.

Basil, Oregano, Rosemary, Garlic, Thyme

What is one section of a garlic bulb called?

Clove

What is "Little Italy"?

An Italian community in many cities where Italian immigrants settled.

What nutrients are provided by pasta?

Carbs, B Vitamins, Iron, Fiber (in whole grain pasta).

What is Antipasto

Usually serve before meal.
Combo of meats, cheese, marinated olives, salmi, fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, mortadella

What is fresh fresh mozzarella

cheese made from fresh buffalo milk

Italian ham

prosciutto

what is Gnocchi

talian term for dumplings; made from potatoes and flour. unlike pasta, it has hard proteins that gives structure to bread product.

what cooking technique do you use for your dough?

kneading

what is gelato?

it's a lighter ice cream, made with milk

Italian staples include?

rice, seafood, pasta and cheese