Monday, July 2, 2012

Using Basic Italian Food And Wine Recipes

By Laura Gallagher


A basic of gourmet cooking in almost any cuisine is wonderful sauces. Any collection of Italian food and wine recipes is no different. It will contain many versions of sauces, based on three basic sauces, marinara, pesto, and alfredo.

One staple of a lot of dishes is marinara sauce. Most people think of this as Italian. It can be used in many dishes and variations by adding a few select ingredients. Just some of the dishes that use this sauce are lasagna, spaghetti, pasta dishes, and many soups.

Tomatoes, sauteed garlic, and healthy olive oil are all components of marinara sauce. Smelling the aroma of a pot of marinara on the stove whets the most reluctant appetite. Easily frozen, it is a ready ingredient for many additives, such as extra garlic, onions, and meats such as prosciutto, ground beef, sausages, and pepperoni slices.

Pesto is probably the most famous of sauces. It is easy to make using only four ingredients - basil, garlic, cheese, and olive oil. Some chefs add ground nuts that have been toasted. These are either walnuts, pecans, or pine nuts. Spreading this sauce on a thick piece of crunchy bread makes a bruschetta that can be enhanced with different added ingredients.

Alfredo is a thick, creamy, cheesy sauce. It uses another basic to this cuisine, cheeses. There are many different cheeses used, depending on taste and the dish. There is parmesan, mozzarella, and parmigiano-Reginno, to name a few. Heavy cream and rich cheeses are used to make this delicious sauce. Ingredients can also be added to this sauce, such as sausage or prosciutto, to make a unique dish.

Another staple ingredient in italian food and wine recipes is wine, both red and white. Tomato dishes traditionally use a red for robust flavor. Alfredo and other creamy type dishes use a milder white variety. Chicken dishes, also, often use a white for a richer flavor. The versatility of this cuisine means pleasure to almost any palate.




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