Beyond Spaghetti: 5 Delicious Italian Dishes Everyone Should Try
When people think about Italian food, spaghetti is usually the first thing on their minds. It’s one of the most tried-and-true Italian dishes there is, after all. But as they say, variety is the spice of life. So if you’re stuck on spaghetti, there are centuries worth of Italian dishes you can try. The pasta-bilities are endless (and they don’t all involve pasta)! Here are five excellent Italian meals that are just deliziose.
1. Classic Calzone
The calzone comes from Naples, Italy, way back in the 1700s. They were commonly sold on the street as an early kind of fast food. You would grab a calzone on the go and eat it en route to your daily routine.
If you’ve missed out on the deliciousness offered by calzones, think of them like pizzas folded on top of themselves. At Spizzico’s, our calzones are prepared with ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmigiano, all served with a side of tomato sauce.
2. Chicken Parmigiana Specialty Sub
The classic chicken parm dates back to early 1800s Naples, right before the Italian diaspora in the early 20th century. Chicken parmigiana quickly spread across the United States, exploding in popularity for its blend of flavors.
By itself, chicken parmigiana is powerful comfort food. But, at Spizzico’s, we take it a step further. We prepare our chicken parmigiana as a sub with breaded chicken breast topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.
3. The Caesar Salad
The story goes that an Italian-American restaurateur by the name of Caesar Cardini created the Caesar salad. The first version of this dish appeared in Tijuana, Mexico, in 1924. It was often served amongst friends. (And still is!)
While the salad may technically be of Mexican origin, it delivers on those classic Italian flavors. You can enjoy a delicious bowl of Caesar salad at Spizzico’s. We prepare it with crisp romaine lettuce, house-made seasoned croutons, Caesar dressing, and shaved Parmigiano. You also have the option of adding grilled chicken, crispy chicken, or shrimp.
4. Antipasto Tradizionale
Before diving into the main course, you should start with one of the most traditional Italian appetizers. Antipasto is a delicious pre-meal choice. It is traditionally made with olives, anchovies, cheeses, and meats. We can thank medieval Italy for antipasto!
Each corner of Italy created its spin on antipasto, but the core flavors stayed the same. Every sweet and savory bite is to excite diners and get them ready for the main course. You can enjoy that same excitement with our antipasto tradizionale, prepared with a variety of cured meats, cheeses, and grilled marinated vegetables.
5. Pizza Capricciosa
Pizza capricciosa was invented in 1952 by Chef Enea Dante Santerini at her restaurant La Capricciosa in the heart of Rome. “Capricciosa” is Italian for “capricious,” which describes a thing or person as prone to sudden changes in mood or behavior. In the context of food, “capricciosa” means the dish would change. That’s right! Based on location, preference, and ingredients. That sometimes meant whatever ingredients were leftover by the end of the day.
Chef Santerini would typically prepare her pizza with tomato, artichokes, mushrooms, Italian baked ham, and mozzarella. Spizzico’s offers a slightly different take on this hearty style of pizza. We feature it with artichoke, olives, mushrooms, and soppressata. It makes for a meaty bite that explodes with flavor.
Come to Spizzico for Genuine Italian Dishes!
If you want traditional Italian food in Maryland, visit Spizzico’s Italian Kitchen. We are located in Arnold, Maryland. Bringing our community together through exquisite family dining is our mission. So come to Spizzico’s Italian Kitchen and order one of our authentic family recipes! It’s an excellent choice for the whole family.
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