‘Less is more’: Understanding How The Italians Eat

We live in a time where everything functions at breakneck speed. Quick service, fast food, quick results and the relentless urge to get bigger and better, have become the need of the hour. But, that’s not necessarily true of the Italians!

Italian culture is still grounded in simplicity and filled with a passion and appreciation for the little things. Whether it is lunch breaks that go on for hours or a daily passeggiata, which is a leisurely evening stroll, Italians continue to live simple lives, based on the ‘less is more’ philosophy’. So much so that Italian cuisine and how Italians eat too, reflects this very idea.

Cucina Povera

What's refreshing about Italian cuisine is that it seems to be crafted around the ‘less is more’ ideology. Using a handful of basic ingredients (usually just three or more), Italians excel at putting together a veritable feast. This is especially evident in their cucina povera style of cooking. Stemming from rural Italy, this tradition involves using the simplest ingredients available in your kitchen, to put together a wholesome, no-waste meal.

Here's some interesting information about Italian food - Some of Italy’s most popular dishes are results of the cucina povera cooking style. Think bruschetta, panzanella and even hearty soups. Simply put, ‘less is more’ isn’t just a phrase in Italy, but a complete practice. And this is especially evident in everything about Italian food— fewer ingredients that lead to maximum flavour.

Here are a few Italian signatures made with basic ingredients, that echo the region’s ‘less is more’ philosophy. You can also bring home Italy’s simple way of cooking and eating, using ‘honestly Italian’ staples from Sorrentina and start on your journey of learning all about Italian cuisine.

Bruschetta

A beloved Italian appetizer, bruschetta takes the form of toasted bread, topped with fresh ingredients — most commonly: tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil and salt. But, did you know that bruschetta was actually the go-to snack for Italian farmers? Imbibing the ‘less is more’ philosophy, farmers converted old bread into a fortifying meal by topping it with just a few ingredients, to give us bruschetta as we know it. Put together a traditional platter of bruschetta with Sorrentina’s freshly baked Whole Wheat Spiced Sourdough.

Cacio E Pepe

This classic pasta is the mainstay of Italian cooking. What makes it ‘less is more’ is the fact that it needs just four ingredients — pasta, pepper, cheese and salt. While they may be small, basic ingredients by themselves, they come together to create a minimal but flavour-packed Italian meal that you will find yourself craving everyday. Whip up a dish of Cacio E Pepe for dinner tonight, with Sorrentina’s hand-rolled Peperoncino & Oregano Spaghetti.

Marinara Sauce

A gold-standard Italian sauce, this one is the true embodiment of the phrase ‘less is more’. This multi-purpose sauce is traditionally made using the simplest ingredients — tomatoes, onions, garlic and herbs. It can be swirled through pasta, spread on pizza and even added to soups to make for an enriching, delicious meal. Grab the closest thing to an Italian marinara sauce, with Sorrentina’s All-Purpose Italian Tomato Sauce.

Margherita Pizza

This universal favourite is yet another simple, comforting Italian creation. Here, a fresh, hand-stretched pizza base is topped with a few tasty essentials. Think marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil and olive oil. It’s just another example of how a handful of simple ingredients can transform into sheer culinary magic.

Get your hands on Sorrentina’s Margherita DIY Pizza Kit, to make an Italian-style pizza from the comfort of your home.

Inspired? Go on! Adopt an Italian-style ‘less is more’ philosophy in your home with Sorrentina’s range of delicious products and discover all about Italian food.

Also Read - Saying ‘Buon Apetito’ Is Not Enough, Get To Know The Italian Lingo Of Food