What to eat in Tuscany?

For eating, Tuscany is an ideal place. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to miss the delicacies of central Italy, you need to dive into it’s incredible gastronomy.  

Read on and we’ll tell you about everything you need to know so you can become obsessed with Tuscany with just one of the five senses: taste.

Olive oil is a particularly Tuscan ingredient which can also be seen in Tuscan nature. It’s large olive fields are not only a beautiful stamp on the countryside, but also allows for the production of extra virgin olive oil that is of such good quality it tends to be used raw as a final touch before being served. 

Antipasti

Has there ever been a time you have read this phrase in an Italian restaurant and not understood what it was? 

In a Tuscan kitchen, much like a general Italian kitchen, ‘Antipasti’ is used to describe their appetizers. These normally consist of a varied assortment of cold meats and it is some our favourite food in Tuscany:

• “La Finocchiona”, fennel served chopped into thick slices.
• “Crostini de fegatini”, slices of toasted bread with a light layer of paté. The paté is made from chicken liver, butter,onion stock, anchovies, and olives and capers can also be added.
• “Panzanella”, Hard bread moistened in water, to which tomato, onion, olive oil, vinegar, salt and basil leaves are added.
• And, of course, cheese and olives.

Pasta

Italy and Tuscany have one thing in common: Pasta is their iconic food. And it’s our favourite type of food in Tuscany.

• “Pappardelle”, a type of noodle 2 to 3cm wide, served with wild boar or hare, mushrooms, sausage, ragú sauce, etc.
• “Pici”, the second traditional pasta dish of Tuscany, but this, in comparison with the previous dish, is thicker and more similar to spaghetti.

Truffles

Tuscany is one of the largest European regional producers of black and white truffles. This delicacy and Tuscan food is a something which is reflected in its price. Nevertheless, this region is usually booming given its large production throughout the year. In relation to the truffle, there is a pasta dish called ‘al tartuffo’ which contains them and this way, you will recognise them better.

Cheeses

In Europe, there are many countries which specialise in cheese, such as Holland and France. However you won’t hear anyone complaining about Italian cheese either. Amongst the exquisite products produced in Italy, is pecorino cheese, with its production dating back 500 years. Shepherds were fed the cheese during their wanderings through their fields. It is made from sheep’s milk, and has a very smooth texture. 

Specific Dishes you can’t afford to miss:

• Minestra di farro

This is a dish made from a grain that is eaten in many main dishes, along with vegetables, and sometimes meat. One of the Tuscan recipes includes red beans, tomatoes, prosciutto, cabbage, potatoes, onion, carrot, garlic, pecorino cheese and hot paprika.

• Lasagne Bastarde

A typical recipe of the Lunigiana zone, it consists of lag¡rge sqaures of pasta made with wheat flour and chesnuts.

• Fagiano tartufato

Going back to talking about truffle dishes, this is an exceptional one. It consists of pheasant with slices of black truffle and minced pork, wrapped in slices of bacon. Baked and served with a béchamel sauce flavoured with truffles.

• Cacciucco

One of the most famous fish soups in Italy, typical of the coastal city of Livorno. Made with different types of fish, the most traditional being different types of the scorpionfish and cuttlefish, mussels, clams and crustaceans.

 

You can visit Italy on our Espresso Tour or on our Secret Italy Tour

¡Bon appetit!

Translated and Adapted by Jessica Pearson