Crafting homemade Italian food is easy if you remember these essential tips.
The Italian dishes at Giolitti Deli are made on-site, with the care and attention to detail that marks the best Italian food from the rest. But how can you replicate that at home? While it’s not exactly possible to replicate the conditions and resources of an Italian restaurant in your home kitchen, there are a few basic things to remember when making your own Italian food. Read on to learn the six essential tips for making excellent homemade Italian food, and soon you will be able to enjoy Giolitti Deli Italian cuisine even when you can’t make it to our dining room.
Cook Pasta Al Dente
If you’re trying to cook restaurant-quality pasta, make sure your noodles are prepared to the point where they are firm to the bite. Any further, and they may become mushy. To help ensure that your pasta is not overcooked, taste a strand of pasta one minute before the suggested cooking time is up.
Properly Salt the Pasta Water
Homemade Italian food requires properly salted water for cooking. Generously salting the pasta water ensures that you have a tasty canvas with which to work. The suggested amount is about two tablespoons of iodized table salt per five quarts of water and one pound of pasta.
Use Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil is a staple of homemade Italian food, so you should spring for a reliable extra-virgin brand. Extra-virgin olive oil is made from the first pressing of the olives, so it has optimal flavor. You can use your extra-virgin olive oil as a finishing oil over salads, pasta, grilled meat, or fish dishes.
Buy Your Cheese Wisely
Pre-grated cheeses bought at supermarkets are often less fresh and less flavorful. If you do buy grated cheese, buy it from a store such as Giolitti Deli, which will grate it fresh for you. Otherwise, look for fresh blocks of cheese to add to your homemade Italian food. You may then use a microplane or grater for small shreds, or a vegetable peeler if you want extra large cheese shavings on your plate.
Use Those Herbs
Fresh herbs are an essential part of homemade Italian food. Whether you garnish a Caprese salad with fresh basil or toss parsley into a pasta primavera, herbs are a vital flavor element of Italian dishes. When purchasing ingredients, look for fragrant herbs and add them in generous amounts to your favorite meals.
Keep it Simple
Homemade Italian food is all about simple recipes that showcase fresh, high-quality ingredients. Taking care to select the best ingredients, even in small amounts, will make each meal taste spectacular.
Authentic Italian Cuisine From Giolitti Deli
Giolitti Deli is a full-service Delicatessen in Annapolis, MD, specializing in authentic Italian cuisine. Founded in 1992, we use the freshest ingredients to make time-honed recipes from scratch, with no MSG or preservatives. We believe in real food and offer many healthy options, including vegetarian and vegan menu items. At Giolitti Deli, we make our own sauces, mozzarella, grilled and roasted vegetables, bread, pizza dough, and desserts, and our sandwiches, salads, pasta, pizza, and entrees are made to order. Owner Mary Giolitti has combined her passion for great food and fine wine to offer Annapolis a true taste of Italy!
Team members who also make the business possible include Manager Kathy Hunter, Manager and Catering Director Cheryl Molesky, Head Baker Porfirio Diaz, Chef Alfredo Escobar, and Deli Manager Noe Merino. To contact us, please visit our contact page or give us a call at 410.266.8600. Also, be sure to keep up with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and our blog!
Tags: cheeses, cooking pasta, extra virgin olive oil, homemade italian food, italian, italian food, pasta