1. Caprese Salad
Caprese Salad was born on the island of Capri, southern Italy (Photo source: Collected)
When it comes to Italian summer dishes, Caprese Salad is the first name that comes to mind, clear and full of life. This salad was born on the island of Capri, southern Italy, where the sun and wind of the Tyrrhenian Sea nurture ripe tomatoes, green basil and smooth white mozzarella with the fragrant smell of fresh milk.
Caprese is the epitome of elegant minimalism. Slices of bright red tomatoes are interspersed with soft mozzarella cheese, garnished with fresh basil leaves, lightly drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of fine sea salt. All combine to create a symphony of tastes: the sweet and sour taste of tomatoes, the rich and smooth taste of mozzarella, the cool aroma of basil and the lingering taste of olive oil like Mediterranean sunshine lingering on the tip of the tongue.
Enjoying Caprese Salad on a summer afternoon on a flower-filled balcony, with a glass of cool white wine aside, is the feeling of fully enjoying Italian romance. This is not just a dish, but a philosophy of life - living slowly, living truly, and honoring natural beauty without ostentation.
2. Prosciutto and Melon
Prosciutto e Melone is the clearest demonstration of the spirit of Italian cuisine (Photo source: Collected)
In the list of summer dishes in Italy, Prosciutto e Melone is the clearest demonstration of the spirit of Italian cuisine: respect for ingredients and the art of creative taste combinations.
Surprise and delight are the first feelings when you bite into a piece of sweet and cool cantaloupe wrapped in a paper-thin slice of prosciutto. The contrast becomes seductive: the rich saltiness of the hand-made, carefully aged prosciutto, embracing the sweetness and juiciness of the ripe cantaloupe. Each bite is a perfect marriage, like a love story between the sea and the land, between people and nature.
Italians often serve Prosciutto e Melone as an appetizer at outdoor summer parties. At long tables covered with white tablecloths, rustic ceramic dishes, under swaying grapevines and the gentle afternoon sun, people laugh, clink glasses and share a plate of prosciutto e melone as if sharing the joy of life. This is not only a summer dish in Italy but also a ritual of intimacy, friendship and family.
3. Pasta with Norma
Pasta alla Norma is a famous specialty of Sicily (Photo source: Collected)
When it comes to summer food in Italy, the warm and sunny flavors of the south cannot be missed without the name Pasta alla Norma – the famous specialty of Sicily. This pasta dish is like a passionate song of the land that was once the crossroads of Mediterranean cultures.
Pasta alla Norma has the rich flavor of golden fried eggplant, sweet fresh tomato sauce with fragrant garlic and basil, topped with standard al dente pasta. The highlight is ricotta salata - lightly salted hard cheese, finely grated on top, creating a seductive salty layer.
The intense heat of Sicily is the secret to the unmistakable sweetness of ripe tomatoes and creamy eggplants. In the summer, Sicilians proudly serve Pasta alla Norma to their guests, inviting them to share the light and love of the land. Each plate of pasta is a picture of summer: bright red, green, golden, filled with the scent of soil, sea breeze and tradition.
Enjoying Pasta alla Norma in a small restaurant under a sunny umbrella, with a glass of sparkling Sicilian red wine, is to fully enjoy the soul of Italian summer - passionate, liberal but full of sophistication.
4. Insalata di Mare
Insalata di Mare is a combination of fresh squid, sweet shrimp, and fatty clams (Photo source: Collected)
With a coastline stretching from Liguria to Calabria, Italy is a kingdom of fresh seafood. And among the Italian summer dishes, Insalata di Mare – seafood salad is a love letter from the Mediterranean Sea to the summer table.
Insalata di Mare is a combination of fresh squid, sweet shrimp, fatty clams and sometimes octopus, boiled just enough to keep it sweet and crunchy. Then, it's all marinated in a mixture of extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, chopped parsley, garlic and sometimes red pepper flakes for a little heat.
The salty taste of the sea is preserved intact, while the sour taste of lemon and the smooth aroma of olive oil bring a cool, delicate feeling. Insalata di Mare not only cools but also awakens the taste buds, like a sea breeze blowing through your hair, soothing all fatigue.
On the outdoor summer table, the plate of Insalata di Mare shines like the turquoise sea under the sun. This is not only a summer dish in Italy but also a symbol of the art of living near the sea, loving the sea and appreciating the priceless gift from the ocean.
5. Gelato
Gelato is a world famous Italian ice cream (Photo source: Collected)
To conclude the list of top 5 summer dishes in Italy, nothing is more suitable than gelato - the world-famous Italian ice cream, the sweet symbol of summer here. Gelato is not just a dessert, but a living experience. On hot summer days in Florence or Rome, people line up in front of gelaterias, patiently waiting for their turn to choose from dozens of colorful flavors: lush green pistachio, rich hazelnut, bright pink fragola of strawberries, rich dark cioccolato or cool golden limone.
Italian gelato differs from regular ice cream in that it is less fatty but more flavorful, and is made slowly and kept at a slightly warmer temperature, allowing the flavors to melt smoothly and delicately on the tongue. Holding a cold cup of gelato, strolling through cobblestone streets, admiring the squares filled with laughter, is an indispensable ritual of the Italian summer.
Italians believe that gelato not only cools the body but also soothes the soul. It is an Italian summer treat that everyone should try, to see how sweet, gentle and lovely life can be.
Summer dishes in Italy are not simply cuisine but also a declaration of life, the way Italians cherish nature, preserve traditions and share joy with each other. When sitting under the green grape trellis, with a glass of sparkling wine and a plate of fresh food delicately arranged, people understand that Italian summer is not for rushing but for living slowly, for loving and enjoying every moment. If you have the chance, reward yourself with a trip and a complete culinary feast - so that summer becomes an unforgettable memory in your life.
Source : https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/mon-an-mua-he-oy-v17515.aspx
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