Basic Facts about Italian Cuisine

Italian cuisine is popular throughout the world for its deliciously healthy dishes. Heavily-influenced by ancient Greek, Roman, and Middle Eastern cuisine, Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes in Italy. The discovery of the New World brought about changes in the cuisine with the introduction of potatoes, bell peppers, and tomatoes, which only became popular in Italy in the 18th century. 
   

Italian cuisine is known for its regional diversity and abundance of difference in taste. Its main characteristic is its simplicity, with many dishes having only four to eight ingredients. Most Italian cooks rely on the quality of ingredients rather than elaborate preparation. As most Italian recipes are discovered and developed by elders rather than by chefs, these recipes are perfect for home-cooking. This is why various cooking magazines in foreign countries popularize Italian recipes targeted at the home cook.