Northern Italy – Sophistication, Cheeses, and Rice Traditions
“Here, instead of tomatoes, there’s butter, instead of pasta, there’s risotto, and instead of lightness, there’s hearty and noble cuisine worthy of kings.”
Northern Italy is the country’s gastronomic capital. It’s here that true Parmesan and prosciutto are made, and where panettone and saffron risotto were invented. The eight regions of the north are united by a love of butter, rice, and polenta. Add to this the cheeses of Gorgonzola, Asiago, and Talleggio, and the wines of Barolo and Prosecco – and you’ve got yourself a month-long culinary journey
Northern regions (list)
Valle d’Aosta — mountain cheeses and fondue
Piedmont — white truffles and Barolo wine
Liguria — pesto and focaccia
Lombardy — saffron risotto and ossobuco
Trentino-Alto Adige — strudel and canederli
Friuli-Venezia Giulia — San Daniele prosciutto
Veneto — tiramisu and prosecco
Emilia-Romagna — Parmesan, prosciutto, tortellini
Table of key northern dishes:
Dish Region Description
Risotto alla Milanese Lombardy Rice with saffron, golden color, delicate flavor
Tortellini in broth Emilia-Romagna Small ravioli with Meat, served in a clear broth
Pesto alla Genovese Liguria A sauce made with basil, pine nuts, and Parmesan
Ossobuco Lombardy Braised veal shank with vegetables and white wine
Tiramisu Veneto A coffee dessert with mascarpone and cocoa
What to try in the north (specialties):
Butter instead of olive oil – in many sauces and dishes
Polenta – a corn porridge used as a side dish for meat and stews
Risotto – a northern alternative to pasta (rice has been grown here for centuries)
Pasta with egg – in the south, it is made only with flour and water
Rice desserts – rice pudding and panettone for Christmas
Fun fact:
“This famous white truffle hails from Piedmont. The price of one specimen can reach several thousand euros. It’s even called the “Piedmont truffle.”
These truffles grow underground in the forests of the Langhe and Monferrato mountains and have such a strong aroma that specially trained dogs are used to find them, usually at night or early in the morning, when the air is humid and the scent is easier to detect. Pigs were previously used for this purpose, but dogs proved much more accurate and obedient.
In the fall, Alba hosts the famous International White Truffle Fair—one of Italy’s premier gastronomic events.”
Want to make risotto like a true Milanese or master the secrets of homemade pesto? All the recipes and traditions of the northern regions are collected in the “Encyclopedia of Italian Cuisine.”