Italy’s first extant Italian Recipes book, attributed to Marcus Gavius Apicius, dates, apparently, to the second century of the modern era. Ancient authors mentioned others but only scattered citations have survived. Recipes and documents on related subjects began to appear again in Italy only in the 14th century.

Since then, they have issued from the printers in a steadily widening stream. As the recipe books, from the earliest to the most recent, clearly show, the basic characteristic of Italian cuisine, its regional imprint, has changed relatively little.

However, attention has shifted from the overly elaborate cooking preferred by aristocrats intent on displaying their wealth to the varied but comparatively simple and wholesome dishes of the less well to do or the out-and-out poor.

In all periods, Italian cooks whether amateur or professional have built their culinary edifices on a solid foundation, the intrinsic quality of the food products. As a result, the Italian or Mediterranean diet is among the world’s tastiest, most wholesome and most varied.

The Italian Recipes presented here, in part courtesy of The Italian Trade Commission, provide only a limited but extremely intriguing introduction to a vast and tantalizing world of authentic flavors and aromas.

Nobody does impeccable pasta dishes, quality meats, and seasonal, simple vegetables prepared well quite like the Italians. That’s why we don’t mess with these recipes—they’re time-tested and perfect in every way.

BREAD, PIZZA, and FOCACCIA
SAUCES and DRESSINGS
Appetizers: VEGETABLES
Appetizers: UOVA and FRITTATA
Appetizers: MEAT and CHEESE
Appetizers: FISH
First Courses: SOUPS
First Courses: DRIED PASTA
First Courses: FRESH PASTA
First Courses: STUFFED FRESH PASTA
First Courses: RICE, POLENTA, and GNOCCHI
Main Courses: BEEF and VEAL
Main Courses: PORK, LAMB and GOAT
Main Courses: POULTRY and GAME
Main Courses: FISH
Main Courses: SNAILS, FROGS, INNARDS and more
SALADS and SIDE ORDERS
DESSERTS
ICE CREAM