Winter Italian Dishes You Need to Try!
Now that it’s winter, you’re probably feeling a little chilly due to the drops in temperature, especially if you’re taking a trip to the Italian Alps. One of the best solutions is to eat some hearty Italian cuisine to warm you up in these cold winter months. Albergo Miramonti, our boutique hotel in the Alps, is passionate about bringing Northern Italian cuisine to the spotlight. Below, we’ve listed some delicious dishes that you have to try from Northern Italy, as well as from the rest of the country. So, without further ado, we’ll start with:
Source: Serious Eats
POLENTA
Polenta is a Northern Italian porridge-like dish that’s made from cornmeal. It’s super simple to make, and his highly versatile. You can essentially fry it, grill it, boil it, etc. Serve the polenta with a side of meats and vegetables, and there you go, you have the perfect winter dish. In our Italian Restaurant menu, we are serving the polenta with a side of Caponata, a Sicilian aubergine stew with sweet and sour sauce. Did you know, the history of polenta is quite impressive? Think about it, corn did not exist in the country back in the day. Find out more by reading our blog post.
Source: La Cucina Italiana
CASSOEULA
Cassoeula is a traditional meat dish originating from the Lombardy region of Italy. Many consider this dish as a perfect meal for winter because of its combination of high-calorie ingredients to create such a strong, distinctive flavour. The dish typically consists of braised pork cutlets and cabbage in a hearty stew often accompanied by polenta and red Valtellinese wine.
Pizzoccheri
PIZZOCCHERI
From the Valtellina valley, pizzoccheri is an iconic pasta dish loved by many Northern Italians, including us at Miramonti Boutique Hotel. The pasta is made from buckwheat, a staple ingredient in the North, and is combined with cabbage, potatoes and a lot of cheese. The cheese used for this dish is called ‘Valtellina casera’, which is a local product that has achieved DOP status. If you’re curious about how to make it, we wrote a basic recipe for Pizzoccheri in our blog.
Source: Italian Food Forever
BACCALA
Baccala is a winter staple all-around the Italian peninsula. In English, baccala means ‘cod’, and is a versatile ingredient that is used in many dishes originating from Naples to Venice. During the Christmas season, many Italian families gather and cook up the fish, and create a delicious, heartwarming meal for the winter. There are many different recipes for baccala, and each family makes it differently. A popular ingredient combination is with tomatoes, potatoes, chickpeas and spices.
Source: Stronger Together
RIBOLLITA
Originating from Tuscany, ribollita is a rich, warm soup which contains a combination of vegetables, beans and crusted bread. If you’re vegetarian, we highly recommend you try this local dish, as it typically does not contain any meat! You can expect greens like squash, kale, white beans and onions. Honestly, there’s nothing better than having a beautiful, warm bowl of soup for the winter.
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RISOTTO
You can’t go wrong with a plate of risotto! Risotto is made of cooked rice, combined with other ingredients such as vegetables, meat or seafood. One of our favourites is Porcini risotto, as it consists of the delicious, umami-flavoured Porcini mushroom. Making risotto is relatively easy, and anyone can make it! It is warm and comforting, a great meal for the cold season.
Why not stay at Albergo Miramonti? We are located within the Alps, with a Hotel Spa, relaxing Cigar Lounge and an Italian Restaurant that serves local Valtellina Cuisine.
For more articles about the Italian Alps and Northern Italy, read our blog: