Contorni Authentic Italian Side Dishes for All Seasons

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Caponata is a sweet and sour Sicilian side or stand-alone dish of eggplant, tomatoes, and pine nuts.

Antipasto: The antipasto is typically the first category you will find on a menu and is simply an appetizer. There are certain things that you can expect on the menu under antipasto and certain things you cannot. There are usually less than 4 items listed under antipasto and one of them is almost always a charcuterie platter, cheese plate, or combination of the two. Other options will change depending on the region of Italy you are in. If you travel in the mountains you might find fried polenta under antipasto, in central italy maybe crosta di pizza, or in southern Italy you might find ‘nduja. Primi: The section for primi is where your main course begins (but shouldn’t end). The items in this category are likely to include pastas of all shapes, sizes, and names. Primi may also include polenta (in central and northern Italy), dumplings like gnocchi and rice or risotto (in the North and major cities throughout the country). The primi usually make up the biggest part of the menu and range between €10 and €20 depending on the restaurant and if the dish includes meat or seafood. Look for words like ragù, sugo and bolognese which indicate traditional meat sauces, often accompanied by tagliatelle pasta. In some cases, you will find another word after ragù or sugo which indicates the type of animal the meat comes from, for example, sugo di cinghiale would indicate a meat sauce made with wild boar. You haven’t fully completed your Italian experience until you’ve tried Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms. Ready for a mouth-watering description? Picture this. Zucchini stuffed with mozzarella cheese and prosciutto. How could you not want to try these? They may appear too pretty to eat, but trust us — they’re worth devouring!Insalata Mista – A mixed salad, roughly equivalent to a house salad. Like most restaurants, the except recipe will vary, but it will usually include olive oil, vinegar dressing, and tomatoes.

Insalata Russais a cold salad of potatoes, carrots, and sweet peas dressed in mayo. If you can find Isalata Russa con Tonno, meaning Insalata Russa with Tuna in English, you should try it! It is one of the most popular side dishes in Piedmont, Italy.

Contorni sfiziosi

Insalata Mista - the meaning translates to mixed salad in English and can be just about any recipe depending on how they present a house salad but often has fresh greens, tomatoes, and an olive oil and vinegar dressing. Vignarolais a Roman side dish of spring onions, guanciale, beans, peas, artichokes, lettuce, and white wine. The five main courses of authentic Italian meal structuresequentially are antipasti, primi, secondi, contorni, and dolci. Because some restaurants in Italy list cheese, fruit, and digestives as separate courses, it can all get a bit confusing and overwhelming for first-time visitors to Italy. Not many Italians think ill of each other for taking pasta over veggies. That said, don’t miss the chance in Italy to try some of the most classic contorni from the region. Below are the most common meanings and definitions based on the most popular languages that use the word contorno.

Verdure al fornois a side dish of mixed, oven-roasted vegetables that are typically seasons and regional. Tra settembre e novembre vediamo comparire sui banchi dei mercati zucche di ogni forma e sapore, funghi di ogni ordine e grado e radicchi di ogni colore e dimensione; possiamo (finalmente) dare il bentornato alla ricca e variegatissima famiglia di broccoli e cavolfiori e godere di carciofi, carote, topinambur e barbabietole.Caprese - a fantastic salad of fresh tomatoes, hand-torn basil leaves, fresh silky mozzarella, and a drizzle of olive oil.