Reasons We Love Garlic So Much

Closeup of Garlic bulbs on wooden table with garlics blur background.A set of fresh garlic on the chest wooden background.

Your palate has five distinct tastes: bitter, salty, sour, sweet, and umami (savory). You also sense cool and hot components, such as the refreshing bite of peppermint or the sharp heat of peppers. Perhaps one of the reasons we love garlic so much is that it satisfies several different tastes, depending on preparation. This makes it an incredibly versatile addition to a wide range of dishes. Are you wondering why so many people adore this ingredient? Here are just a few reasons to add it to the menu.

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Most Popular Vegetables Italians Like to Cook With

Most Popular Vegetables Italians Like to Cook With

When most people think of Italian food, their minds immediately go to pizza, pasta, and other delicious, carb-heavy foods. These dishes are certainly important within the Italian tradition. However, true Italian food lovers know that the cuisine uses popular vegetables just as often as it uses dough. Here are some of the secrets of an Italian’s favorite vegetables from our chefs.

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5 Classic Italian Herbs (and the Best Ways to Use Them)

5 Classic Italian Herbs

It is said that variety is the spice of life, and this is never more true than when choosing Italian spices to turn a plain-Jane pot of pasta or a cheesy pizza pie into a culinary treat to delight the taste buds. Of course, selecting the right spices to enhance the flavor profile is essential. While creativity and experimentation can be fun, you might not be very pleased with the outcome if you grab the sugar instead of the salt, for example. The good news is, certain groups of herbs and spices are often tied to a region and to the dishes native to that part of the world, making it easy to work out tasty flavor combos. When it comes to herbs, there are several classics that will make your Italian dishes positively sing, and many work great for other recipes, as well. Here are the top five you’ll want to add to your spice rack.

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Beyond Spaghetti: 5 Delicious Italian Dishes Everyone Should Try

Italian Dishes You 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. 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 amazing Italian meals that are just deliziose.

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5 Amazing Health Benefits of Tomato Sauce

Health Benefits of Tomato Sauce

Do you know what sounds nice right now? A nice hot plate of hearty pasta. Do you know what sounds even nicer? Knowing that you’re improving your health with all that delicious tomato sauce. Tomatoes are an incredible little fruit with big health benefits that your body craves. Soon, you’ll know there’s no reason to feel guilty about eating every last bite of fresh-made pasta puttanesca. In this article, we’ll discuss some fantastic health benefits of tomato sauce.

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The Tomato Lovers’ Guide to Every Locally Used Type of Tomato

types of tomato - Spizzico

Tomato-tomahto, they’re all the same – right? Wrong! There are dozens, if not hundreds, of different types of tomatoes available, and each one brings with it a unique taste and texture. That’s why, when trying new sauce recipes or a new dish entirely, you want to make sure you are paying attention to which type of tomato the recipe calls for and which one you are grabbing at the store.

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Not Your Grandmother’s Lasagna Recipe Ideas for the Home Cook

Lasagna Recipe Ideas

When you think of a hearty, ooey-gooey pasta dish that will feed an army, lasagna may come to mind. Traditional lasagna you’re used to eating combines layers of tomato sauce, cheese, and meat.  While the classic recipe is delicious and comforting, you may want to get more creative in your own kitchen. Lasagna, traditional or not, can be intimidating to make. Cooking and assembling this dish is a labor of love, but is it too complicated for the home cook? Absolutely not! All you need is your choice of sauce, pasta, and a filling. Don’t want cheese? Swap it for pesto. Lasagna is the perfect food to tailor to your dietary needs and preferences.

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Soffritto: What You Should Know About the Cornerstone of Italian Cuisine

soffritto Italian dish

Soffritto is the first step to creating many hearty, delectable Italian dishes. It requires time and precision, but in the end, the time you spend chopping vegetables and cooking them in healthy fat is worth it. A traditional soffritto will add depth of flavor to just about any dish you create. Learn more about the authentically Italian dish here.  

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