There’s no denying the popularity of Italian cuisine among foodies around the world. In fact, the website The Picky Eater analyzed Instagram hashtags of cuisines from various countries and found that Italian cuisine is, by far, the most popular — edging other widely loved foods from Japan and India. Besides specific foods like pizza being a universal comfort food, Italian cuisine also appeals to various tastes due to its use of high-quality ingredients, skilled cooking techniques, and unique and diverse flavors.
Moreover, the rich history and cultural significance of Italian cuisine may have influenced you to not just try it but to also cook it yourself. So, here are a few resources to help you get started on this culinary journey and truly capture the essence of Italian cooking.
Masterclass for cooking classes
If you’re the type to learn from expert-led lessons, why not sign up for a cooking class on the virtual learning platform Masterclass? One of the best classes focused on Italian cuisine is taught by Massimo Bottura, owner of the three Michelin-starred restaurant Osteria Francescana in the province of Modena, Italy.
Regardless of your culinary experience or skill level, Bottura’s classes are simple and easy to follow, as they introduce his modern take on traditional Italian cooking. Besides walking you through the process of making classic regional dishes like tortellini and risotto, the 14-part class also imparts Bottura’s own techniques and principles — such as implementing zero-waste in your kitchen and developing your palate for fundamental Italian ingredients.
Everand for ebooks and audiobooks
Meanwhile, you can also take the self-paced approach and gather your own learning resources. In this light, the digital library Everand has a ton of resources on Italian cooking, from cookbooks and recipes by celebrity chefs like Stanley Tucci to titles that teach you the rich historical background of authentic Italian food.
For instance, Anna Del Conte’s The Classic Food of Northern Italy is an award-winning book that showcases the diversity of northern Italian cuisine, from rustic recipes like flatbread with chickpea flour to popular dishes like pesto and ragu. Besides Everand’s affordable subscription that gives you unlimited access to such titles, you can also read and listen offline to help you sharpen your Italian cooking skills on the go.
YouTube for recipes and tutorials
Aside from paying for classes and digital resources, those on a budget can instead take advantage of free recipes and tutorials on the video-sharing platform YouTube. Specifically, YouTube star Laura Vitale has a cooking channel where she shares recipes for Italian-American classics, heavily inspired by her beloved Nonna’s cooking.
Among the hearty recipes the Laura in the Kitchen channel has featured is a savory chicken sausage and cheese tortellini soup, which only takes 30 minutes to cook but has the perfect amount of warmth and comfort for chilly evenings. On her channel, Vitale also recreates her Nonna’s cooking legacy through family favorites like four-cheese baked ziti and semolina cake.
Samsung Food for AI assistance
Once you’re ready to take over the kitchen and try your hand at Italian cuisine, you can also rely on Samsung’s newest food service platform — aptly named Samsung Food — as your digital cooking assistant.
Powered by artificial intelligence, Samsung Food can help you find step-by-step instructions for the cooking appliances you have at home, allowing you to perfectly recreate the recipes you find online. Connecting the tool to your appliances and smartphones also enables you to store your favorite recipes and personalize them for meal planning and preparation.
Complement these resources with Forcella Eatery’s informative blog posts, such as a previous article entitled ‘Why Mozzarella Is The Best Cheese For Pizza’ to help you better understand the role of fundamental ingredients like mozzarella in culinary staples like pizza. You also get to know the benefits of mozzarella cheese not just in terms of food preparation but also health and nutrition. Continue exploring Forcella Eatery’s website to discover the best restaurants and pizzerias that serve an authentic Italian taste in New York.