4 Italian Foods You've Been Eating Wrong

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Known for being healthy, delicious, and easy to cook, Italian food has long since woven its way into the hearts of many Americans. But in many restaurants, popular Italian dishes are drowned in too many ingredients or cooked using cheap products. For master chefs such as Silvia Baldini, this is a major faux pas.

Here are some of the Italian foods that you’ve been eating wrong without even realizing it:

PAsta

A cornerstone of Italian cuisine, pasta is often served overcooked and soaked in mass-produced sauces. “I wouldn’t serve store-bought pesto to my worst enemy,” Baldini said in an article with the Independent. Try instead to make pesto at home, using ground pine nuts, basil leaves, and olive oil.

Another mistake people often make with pasta is washing it off with cool water after cooking. This removes the gluten, which is important for both the sauce and the flavor.

Photo Courtesy of Buonissimo

Salad

Just as with store-bought pesto, you should avoid the same with salad dressing. Instead, coat your salad with a mixture of olive oil and vinegar or lemon, and season with salt and pepper.

Photo Courtesy of Italian Food Forever

PIzza

According to Baldini, a good pizza should not cave under the weight of heavy meats like chicken or meatballs. Instead, a thin crust is meant to showcase a few delicious toppings - but never pineapple.

coffee

You should never order a cappuccino for your after-dinner coffee. In Italy, this is strictly served during breakfast or an afternoon break. Opt for an espresso instead.

Photo Courtesy of Nespresso

Hungry for more? Check out our recipes for Pizzas Straight from Italy and Easy Homemade Gnocci.

Chef Tips and Tricks

RECIPE: Delicious "Bolo Brigadeiro" Cake

Check out our delicious spin on the classic Brazilian cake, with Fererro Rochers and Kit-Kat!

INGREDIENTS

For the batter:

3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup of cocoa powder
2 tablespoons neutral oil
1 cup of of natural yogurt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

For the frosting:

2 cups chocolate chunks
3 cans of condensed milk
2 and 1/2 cups thickened cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

METHOD

In a pan, melt together the condensed milk, the chocolates in pieces and the butter. Slowly fold in the thickened cream. Mix, without stopping, until it is smooth and thick.
Transfer to the refrigerator and allow to cool for 1 hour.
In a bowl, mix together the eggs and sugar. Add the oil and mix again.
In another bowl mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and the bicarbonate soda. Pour in the egg mixture, mix together, then add the yogurt.
Grease and sprinkle cocoa powder inside two springform pans. Divide the batter mixture between them, then bake at 360°F for approximately 20 minutes.
Remove the cakes from the oven, and allow to cool.
Spread some of the frosting between the layers of the cake, and generously spread around the outside.
Decorate the cake with Kit Kats, extra frosting and Fererro Rochers, in your style!
Enjoy!

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