The Italian food of the Veneto region poses a perplexing question: With so many dishes to choose from, how can anyone have only one favorite? Given the great regional variations within the region, not to mention between Veneto and the rest of the country, there are a lot of unique dishes waiting for you to discover them. However, if risotto is something you crave, Veneto is definitely for you.
Besides pasta, risotto is the most universally known and celebrated of Italian food dishes. For those wanting some truly great Italian food, Veneto is a must visit.
Risotto is a specific way of cooking rice, and is growing in popularity to take it's rightful place alongside pasta in the pantheon of Italian food, like many specialties of the Veneto region. To make a true risotto, the rice must first be cooked in olive oil or butter.
It should be cooked until it is evenly coated and begins to turn translucent. After that, broth is added to the rice slowly, one spoonful at a time. The most defining quality of a risotto is that the rice is toasted. If the rice isn't toasted than it's not a risotto, no matter how fine the Italian food restaurant is that you're in.
Because of the versatility of risotto, there are a multitude of variations on the recipe. Nearly any good ingredients will make a good risotto, the exact components depend greatly on location if you are in Veneto. Whatever the local specialty happens to be, you can bet it will end up in the local risotto - e.g. seafood near the coast, and so on.
You will find all manner of ingredients in a risotto when you're in Veneto. For instance, asparagus and pumpkin, even frogs' legs. That's right, frogs' legs; though usually associated with French cuisine, it is common in some parts of Italy as well.
The Italian food dishes of Veneto differ somewhat from those usually thought of when one thinks of Italian food. Heavier dishes are commonplace, and beans are a common ingredient. In fact, the peoples of the Veneto region are sometimes called "fagioli" by their neighbors to the south, a reference to the popular Veneto regional dish of pasta and beans.
This is also an area of Italy where anchovies and stockfish are used extensively in Italian food. However, fish is not the dish of choice here, being beaten out by meats and sausages. A favorite meat is sopressata which is a dry-cured salami. It gets its name from the fact that while drying it is often pressed with a weight and comes out looking flat.
Most commonly, sopressata is pork based, but beef variations exist as well. Garlic salami is another local favorite. The Italian food found in Veneto includes quite a lot of the local produce specialties; these include radicchio and their famed asparagus, along with young tender peas, paired with rice. This is an Italian food dish unique to Veneto.
As we have seen, the Italian food of Veneto differs from the stereotype of Italian food held by many. From rice and vegetable dishes to its famed sausages like sopressata, there is a lot to choose from. If it just isn't Italian food to you unless risotto is served, or if you know your sausage, Veneto's Italian food is the thing for you. With it's great variety, Veneto has a dish that will please everybody.
Besides pasta, risotto is the most universally known and celebrated of Italian food dishes. For those wanting some truly great Italian food, Veneto is a must visit.
Risotto is a specific way of cooking rice, and is growing in popularity to take it's rightful place alongside pasta in the pantheon of Italian food, like many specialties of the Veneto region. To make a true risotto, the rice must first be cooked in olive oil or butter.
It should be cooked until it is evenly coated and begins to turn translucent. After that, broth is added to the rice slowly, one spoonful at a time. The most defining quality of a risotto is that the rice is toasted. If the rice isn't toasted than it's not a risotto, no matter how fine the Italian food restaurant is that you're in.
Because of the versatility of risotto, there are a multitude of variations on the recipe. Nearly any good ingredients will make a good risotto, the exact components depend greatly on location if you are in Veneto. Whatever the local specialty happens to be, you can bet it will end up in the local risotto - e.g. seafood near the coast, and so on.
You will find all manner of ingredients in a risotto when you're in Veneto. For instance, asparagus and pumpkin, even frogs' legs. That's right, frogs' legs; though usually associated with French cuisine, it is common in some parts of Italy as well.
The Italian food dishes of Veneto differ somewhat from those usually thought of when one thinks of Italian food. Heavier dishes are commonplace, and beans are a common ingredient. In fact, the peoples of the Veneto region are sometimes called "fagioli" by their neighbors to the south, a reference to the popular Veneto regional dish of pasta and beans.
This is also an area of Italy where anchovies and stockfish are used extensively in Italian food. However, fish is not the dish of choice here, being beaten out by meats and sausages. A favorite meat is sopressata which is a dry-cured salami. It gets its name from the fact that while drying it is often pressed with a weight and comes out looking flat.
Most commonly, sopressata is pork based, but beef variations exist as well. Garlic salami is another local favorite. The Italian food found in Veneto includes quite a lot of the local produce specialties; these include radicchio and their famed asparagus, along with young tender peas, paired with rice. This is an Italian food dish unique to Veneto.
As we have seen, the Italian food of Veneto differs from the stereotype of Italian food held by many. From rice and vegetable dishes to its famed sausages like sopressata, there is a lot to choose from. If it just isn't Italian food to you unless risotto is served, or if you know your sausage, Veneto's Italian food is the thing for you. With it's great variety, Veneto has a dish that will please everybody.
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Check out these great lobster risotto recipes and tips on how to prepare all types of seafood at http://www.weloveseafood.com
