Italian Food - How Many Courses?

Have you ever wondered what each Italian course consists of? Here's a guide so you'll never be left confused.

Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes. Italian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Etruscan, ancient Greek, and ancient Roman. Significant changes occurred with the discovery of the New World and the introduction of potatoes, tomatoes, bell peppers and maize and all this change caused the Italians to create many courses.

Aperitivo - aperitif usually enjoyed as an appetizer before a large meal which may be a Campari, Cinzano, Prosecco, Aperol, Spritz or a Vermouth.

This is followed by Antipasto literally "before the meal", hot or cold appetizers.

Next is the Primo or the "first course" which usually consists of a hot dish like pasta, risotto, gnocchi, or soup.

Next is Secondo or the "second course", the main dish, usually fish or meat. Traditionally veal, pork and chicken are most commonly used.

A Contorno or "side dish" usually accompanies the Seconde which may be a salad or cooked vegetables. A traditional menu may also feature a salad along with the main course.

The first of the desserts, Formaggio e frutta or "cheese and fruits" consists of local italian cheeses which can also be part of the antipasto or Contorno courses as well.

Another dessert Dolce or the "sweet" are served such as cakes like Tiramisu or cookies.

After all this food, Caffe or coffee is served.

Finally a Digestivo or "digestives" which includes liquors/liqueurs such as Grappa, Amaro, Limoncello, Sambuca, Nocino. This can sometimes be referred to as Ammazza Caffe or "coffee killer".

Traditionally, meals in Italy usually contain 3 or 4 courses. Especially on weekends, meals are often seen as a time to spend with family and friends rather than simply for sustenance and therefore tend to be longer than in other cultures. During holidays such as Christmas and New Year's Eve, feasts can last for hours.

Today, the traditional Italian Dishes menu is kept mainly for special events such as weddings, christening or easter while an everyday menu includes only the first and/or the second course, the side dish or two, and coffee. A notable aspect of Italian meals is that the primo or first course is usually a more filling dish such as risotto or pasta. Italian cuisine also includes single courses (all-in-one courses), providing carbohydrates and proteins at the same time (e.g. pasta or risotto and legumes).