Italian Christmas dishes

In a Christmas atmosphere, I would like to share the most interesting Italian recipes of this period.

As for the Italian Christmas Eve, it consists of 13 dishes without meat and is eaten after a 24-hour fast. On the table there are mainly fish and seafood - obbligatory are dishes made of eel and cod. Anchovies, squid, octopus and mussels, for example in salads, are also popular. Then is served pasta, which is very different from region to region.

Certainly the Christmas Eve dinner is great, but the day of the real feast is December 25th. Italians prepare the best olives, baked peppers, cheeses, prosciutto, salami, lasagne, tortellini and meat. As you can notice, this dishes are usually based on regional products that are difficult to find in Poland. Fortunately, there are also great desserts, which are my inspiration. 

The cakes that are true symbols of the Italian holidays are:

il panettone - a cake with raisins and candied fruit. There are also variations with chocolate or different creams.

il pandoro - similar in shape to panettone, but has no additives and the dough has a different texture

il torrone - looks like white chocolate with nuts but the taste is more like nougat

They require a lot of work, and sometimes also a special oven, so I buy them ready from the store (in Italy it's also a common practice). We can even find them in our supermarkets because have gained popularity and are exported to many countries.

The desserts that I prepare for my christmas table and are loved by my family are cantuccini, tiramisu and panforte.

CANTUCCI

These are my favorite cookies. They are hard and crispy like rusks, with a delicate lemon flavor and lots of almonds. They come from Prato in Tuscany, which is why they are also called biscotti di Prato. They can be eaten dipped in wine, liqueur, milk or coffee.

TIRAMISU 

Everyone knows this dessert. Classic tiramisu is always impressive. It's delicious, delicate and good for any occasion. Italians very often prepare them also for the Christmas. And i have to say that is a real pleasure to make it from recipe of Gennaro Contaldo.

PANFORTE

A unique delicacy from Siena with a very long tradition. The flavor is very intense and sweet. It's a gingerbread filled with nuts, raisins and spices. The fact that is easy to prepare and can be stored for a long time is very encouraging to make it.