12 Northern Italian dishes that make you long for Italy

Traveling from home? That’s possible! With these typical Northern Italian dishes, you image yourself in the beautiful Northern Italy.

12 Northern Italian dishes

Aperitivo

Just like in Italy, we start of with a delicious aperitivo consisting of a tasty drink and a suitable bite.

Aperol Spritz

Everyone knows the world famous Aperol Spritz already. Although you can drink this delicious aperitivo all over the world, it’s roots are still in Italy, more specifically in Padua in Northern Italy.

What do you need?

• Ice cubes
• 2 cl Aperol
• 2 cl Prosecco
• 2,5 cl of sparkling water
• Slice of orange

How do you make an Aperol Spritz?

Montenegro spritz

Another delicious aperitivo from beautiful Bologna, is the Montenegro Spritz. Like the Aperol Spritz, this is made with prosecco. But it has a slightly more spicy and bitter taste. Definitely recommended if you like a feisty aperitivo.

What do you need?

• Ice cubes
• 8 cl Amaro Montenegro
• (optional: 30 cl gin)
• Prosecco
• Slice of lemon

How do you make a Montenegro Spritz?

You also need a large wine glass for this aperitivo. Fill it with some ice cubes. Add the Amaro Montenegro and fill the glass with prosecco. Finally, add a slice of lemon and don’t forget to enjoy this delicious aperitivo.

Source: ENIT

Hugo

One of the latest hypes in Northern Italy, more specifically in South Tyrol, is the “Hugo”. This tasty, refreshing aperitivo is also made with prosecco but has a unique twist.

What do you need?

• Ice cubes
• 15 cl Prosecco
• 2 cl lemon balm syrup or elderflower syrup
• 1 dash of sparking water
• Mint leaves
• lemon slices

How do you make a Hugo?

The hugo is easy to make. Take a large wine glass. Fill the glass with the ice cubes and then add the prosecco, lemon balm syrup or elderflower syrup and sparkling water. Gently mix in a few mint leaves with a stirring stick and serve with a slice of lemon.

Source: Suedtirol

Naturally, the aperitivo includes a drink and a bite. One of my favorite Italian dishes is the bruschetta. First and foremost because it just tastes delicious and it is also very easy to make. A bruschetta consists of a toasted slice of bread with a typical Italian topping. Below I explain how you can make a delicious bruschetta in 3 different ways with Northern Italian ingredients to serve with one of the above drinks during the aperitivo.

Bruschetta Molisana

Truffle is a real Italian delicacy. So a bruschetta based on truffle and artichokes should certainly not be missing from our menu.

What do your need?

• A baguette
• Cream of black truffle and artichokes ( crema carciofe e tartufo)
• Slices of smoke bacon
• Parmesan flakes
• Basil leaves

How do you make a bruschetta Molisana?

Source: ENIT

Bruchetta Mousse di Mortadella

A real specialty in Bologna, the capital of Emelia Romagna, is Mortadella. This is a typical Italian sausage made from pork. You can use this specialty to top your bruschetta, but you can also make a delicious Mortadella mousse.

Whad do you need?

• A baguette
• 300 g Mortadella Bologna
• 200 g ricotta
• 1 tablespoon of parmesan
• 1 tablespoon of cream
• Cherry tomatoes

How do you make a bruchetta Mousse di Mortadella?

Cut the Mortadella Bologna into little pieces. This can easily be done with a blender. Add the ricotta and parmesan cheese. Mix until you get a smooth consistency without lumps. Add the cream and mix until you get a mousse. Slice the baguette and toast both sides. Spread the mousse di Mortadella on the bread. Finish with a cherry tomato.

Source: Turismo Inpianura 

Bruschetta Classico

The bruschetta classico is made with delicious Tuscan tomatoes. It’s also the most known bruschetta and the most served one in Italy. That’s why I call it the bruschetta classico.

What do you need?

• A baguette
• 6 juicy Toscan tomatoes
• A few leaves of basil
• salt
• 1 clove of garlic
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil

How do you make a bruschetta classico?

Chop the tomatoes in little pieces and put in a large bowl. Shred the basil leaves and add them to the bowl, season with salt. Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil and stir well. In the meantime, toast a few slices of the baguette on both sides. Peel the garlic clove. When the bread is ready, rub it with the clove of garlicon on both sides. Then you can chop the garlic and add it to the bowl. Stir well again. Arrange the tomato mixture on the toast. Finish with a basil leaf.

Source: Visit Tuscany

Starters

Beef carpaccio with black truffle

What do you need?

• Beef carpaccio
• Carpatio di tartufo nero
• Agurula
• Cherry tomatos
• Parmesan flakes

How do you make beef carpaccio with black truffle?

Place a few slices of beef carpaccio on a flat plate. Add a few slices of black truffle to it. Finish with some arugula, cherry tomatoes, olive oil and a few flakes of parmesan.

Wine tip: Langhe Rosato

Source: ENIT

Goats cheese au gratin with South Tyrolean smoked ham

Wat do you need?

• 250 g goats cream cheese from South Tirol
• 65 g mascarpone
• 2 tablespoons Algund mountain chees, grated
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped herbs (parsley, chervil, chives)
• 20 rashers of South Tyrolean smoked ham
• 20 walnuts
• 1 apple
• 3 tablespoons South Tyrolean honey
• Salt and pepper

How do you make Goats cheese au gratin with South Tyrolean smoked ham?

Wine tip: Meraner from South Tirol

Source: Suedtirol

Pumpkin and mushroom soup, a delicious autumn dish from Tuscany

What do you need?

• 1 onion
• 1 slice of pumpkin
• Fresh porcini mushrooms
• Salt
• Olive oil
• Rosemary or parsley

How do you make pumpkin and mushroom soup?

Source: Visit Tuscany

Time for pasta

In Italy pasta is often eaten between the starter and the main dish. Because I like to leave some room for dessert, I chose to only focus on a few typical Northern Italian pasta dishes that can also be eaten as a main course in large portion.

Tagliatelle al tartufetto bianco

What do you need?

• Tagliatelle al tartufo bianchetto (you can also use regular tagiatelli, but with Tagliatelle al tartufo bianchetto you can enjoy the delicious truffle flavor even more)
• Crema al tartufo bianco
• Olive oil
• (Optional: mushrooms)
• Parmesan

How do you make Tagliatelle al tartufetto bianco?

Wine tip: Parrina Vermentino

Source: ENIT

What do you need?

• 400 g tagliolini
• 3 finely chopped shallots
• 4 ripe red tomatoes
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• A few leaves of basil

How do you make tagliolini in a shallot sauce ?

Heat a pot of water till it boils. Wash and peel the tomatoes and add them to the boiling water. Brown a few finely chopped shallots with 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan. Remove the tomatoes from the water and cut them into pieces. Add this to the pan with shallots and fry for another 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, cook the tagliolini in plenty of salted water. When the tagliolini is done, add them to the sauce and let them fry for about 10 minutes at a low temperature. Finish with a few basil leaves.

Source: Turismo Imolese

South Tyrolean-style carbonara

What do you need?

• 500 g tagliolini
• 150 g finely sliced Speck Alto Adige
• 15 ml white wine
• 4 4 egg yolks
• 100 ml cream
• 100 ml broth
• Chives

How do you make South Tyrolean-style carbonara?

Source: Suedtirol

Desserts

As icing on the cake, I have 3 delicous North Italians dessert recipes for you.

South Tyrolean apple and cinnamon muffins

What do you need?

• 250 g sweet apples
• 75 g butter
• 100 g sugar
• 2 eggs
• 250 g natural yoghurt
• 250 g flower
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• A little mixed cinnamon and sugar

How do you make South Tyrolean apple and cinnamon muffins?

Peel and core the apples, cut them in small cubes. Beat the butter, sugar and eggs in a bowl until fluffy. Sieve the flour, baking powder and cinnamon into another bowl. Alternating between the yoghurt and the flour mixture, work both into the egg mixture.Then gently stir in the diced apple. Grease the muffin cups with butter and dust with flour. Using a piping bag, pipe the mixture into the tins and bake at 175 ° C in a preheated oven for 18–20 minutes. Finish with cinnamon and sugar.

Source: Suedtirol

Typical Tuscan almond biscuits: cantucci

What do you need?

• 3 eggs
• 220 g sugar
• 280 g flower
• 5 g baking powder
• Zest of one orange
• A pinch of salt
• 200 g of unskinned almonds

How do you make cantucci?

Source: Visit Tuscany

 Toscan Tiramisu

What do you need?

• 500 g of italiaanse Mascarpone
• Savoiardi biscuits (as many as you need)
• 3 eggs
• 3 tablespoons of sugar
• Espresso Coffee for 6 people
• Powder cocoa

How do you make this all time classic?

Source: Visit Tuscany

After the dessert you can enjoy a delicious Italian digestif. Some of my favorites are limoncello, amaretto, and grappa.

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Good luck with creating your Italian menu!

yours truly,

Sarah

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