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This is part two of a series where we cover the staple ingredients used in Italian cooking to help you broaden your culinary horizons. Moving on from the basics in Italian dishes we cover more complex ingredients that are still commonly found in many dishes across Italy. These are the ingredients often looked past or under estimated by the average home cook when it comes to Italian cuisine, however, these ingredients play a major role in many dishes and can affect the final result in significant ways. These are the final staple ingredients any cook needs to make authentic Italian cuisine at home. If you are looking for some of these harder to find ingredients, check out Vincenzo’s both in store and online to find anything you need during your culinary journey.

Rosemary

Rosemary is another pantry staple found in many households as it is a simple herb that can add to a variety of dishes. The leaves have a bitter, astringent taste and a characteristic aroma which compliments many cooked foods especially meats. When roasted with meats or vegetables the leaves impart a mustard-like aroma with an additional fragrance of charred wood that goes well with roasted foods. You can pull off the leaves and add them to a dish or throw the whole steam into a stock, sauce, soup, or stew to further imbue it with flavour. The leaves are used as a flavouring in foods such as meats. The charred flavour is a great addition to any roasted food as it adds a fuller taste and helps round out a meal and flavour pallet. Vincenzo's offers fresh rosemary making it easy to pick up with other herbs and ingredients.

Capers

Capers are not known by many people and are often over looked as people do not know how important they can be. In Italian cuisine they are used mainly in, Sicilian, Aeolion, and Southern Italian cooking. Commonly in salads, pasta salads, meat dishes, and pasta sauces. They provide a salty bite with a nice acidity from being pickled and can add a nice bite to a dish.

Capers are sold in two forms, edible flower buds (capers) used as seasoning or garnish, and the fruit (caper berries), both of which are usually consumed salted or pickled. Caper berries are not consumed or used as often as capers as they have a very short window for use before they are too mature and become bitter and harder to eat.

When looking to purchase capers you need to check the label as they are categorized and sold by size, with the smallest being the most desirable. Non-Pareil (up to 7mm), Surfines (7-8 mm), Capucines (8-9 mm), Capotes (9-11 mm), Fines (11-13 mm), and Grusas (14+ mm). Vincenzo's currently only offers one kind of caper berries online however, there may be more variety instore depending on stock.

Lemons

Lemons are not typically seen as an important part of a dish or a needed ingredient to keep in one's house, however, they can make or break the final taste of a dish and help settle overpowering or conflicting flavours. Its strong sour taste makes it a key ingredient in many dishes.

Most commonly the juice of the lemon is used but the pulp and the rind can also be used for many dishes. The whole lemon is commonly used to make things like marmalade, lemon curd, and lemon liquor. Sliced lemons are commonly used as a garnish in many dishes and drinks.

Lemon zest, the grated rind of the lemon, is used to add flavour to many dishes such as baked goods, puddings, rice, and other dishes. The juice is used in marinades for fish and other meats as the acidity helps break down and activate certain proteins making them saltier and more tender. Preserved lemons are often used in Italian desserts as they have a sweeter taste to them.

Lemon is popular in many Italian dishes as it adds a light refreshing flavour and the acidity helps cut through the richness of many dishes. It is used as part of dressings for salads, pasta sauces, and on top of many meats. You can purchase lemons off of Vincenzo’s website and instore.

Porcini Mushrooms

Porcini mushrooms may seem like an odd choice for a staple ingredient as many people are unsure of their value and use. They are a prized ingredient in many dishes and are held in high regard. They are commonly prepared and eaten in soups, pasta, or risotto.

Although they are sold commercially, they are very hard to cultivate, they are only grown in certain regions during certain times of the year. In order to sell them worldwide they are first dried and then sealed in air tight bags to maintain their freshness. They are then reconstituted before cooking. Because they are so hard to get it makes them a prized ingredient among many chefs. They have been praised by chefs as being the most rewarding of all fungi to cook with because of their taste and versatility.

The flavour has been described as nutty and slightly meaty, with a smooth and creamy texture and a distinctive aroma similar to sourdough. Because of their taste they have often been used as a vegan or vegetarian substitute in many dishes. Vincenzo's currently offers two types of porcini mushrooms on our website.

Ricotta

Ricotta is a staple cheese in many Italian dishes due to its versatility, as it can be served hot or cold, with sweet or with savory. Ricotta adds a creamy sweetness to many dishes that other cheeses or plain cream cannot. It requires little to no preparation so it can easily be added on top of any dish as a spread or in clumps or mixed into a sauce or pasta dish without any hassle.

Ricotta is a favorite in many Italian desserts, such as cheesecakes and cannoli, as well as a variety of cookies. Because ricotta is so plain and simple and a great base it can easily be beaten into a smooth texture and mixed with a variety of other ingredients, such as sugar, cinnamon, orange extract, vanilla, dried strawberries, and chocolate to be served as a dessert. When combined with eggs and cooked grains than baked until firm, it then become Neapolitan pastiera, one of Italy’s many “Eater Pies”.

Ricotta is also commonly used in savory dishes including pasta, calzone, stomboli, pizza, manicotti, lasagna, and ravioli. It helps provide a creamy texture and can be cooked without fully melting. It is also used as a mayonnaise substitute in traditional egg and tuna salad and as a sauce thickener. You can pick up one of the three kinds of ricotta offered by Vincenzo’s.

Polenta

Polenta may not be a familiar dish to many people however, it is a staple amongst Northern Italian cuisine and sometimes Central Italian as well. Polenta is a grain like dish made up of cornmeal, similar to American grits, Chinese congee (rice porridge), or English porridge. It is boiled cornmeal that is then served hot like a porridge that be used as a base for many other dishes, or it can be cooled and allowed to solidify into a loaf that can then be fried, baked, or grilled.

Polenta is similar to an Italian equivalent to mashed potatoes; it can be eaten on its own with a little bit of sauce or dressing or it can be served as a simple base to build upon. Many recipes feature it being the base for many meat dishes as a way to include some more substance and/or fill out the dish and mellow out richer and stronger flavours.

Polenta does however, take a very long time to cook, up to 45 minutes, with constant supervision as it must be stirred in order to ensure even cooking. Because of this many opt not to serve polenta or go with the faster instant version that takes mere minutes to make. Both are good options and the instant version is great for those with busy lives that still want to make a dish but do not have time to cook polenta. However, instant polenta will never have the same taste or texture as the original kind, the texture tends to gummier and the taste is a little lacking, similar to instant mashed potatoes. If you are able to, always go for the original instead of the instant especially if you want a truly authentic taste. If you are looking for a good brand of polenta to grab, Vincenzo’s offers six varieties including both instant and original.

Wine

Wine has historically been served alongside a meal, as a drink pairing to enhance or compliment the dish being served. We often see wine served with dinner and sometimes a sweet wine served with dessert, but rarely do we think about the wine that is included in the cooking process and how that effects our food. Wine pairings are a great way to enhance a meal and can often affect the overall taste of the meal, you can use a wine guide to help you make the right choice.

Wine cooked into the dish itself is also something one must consider when making a meal. When looking at a recipe carefully read what kind of wine the dish needs, whether it be red or white, savory or sweet, everything can affect the taste of a dish. Wine is used as a flavour agent in many dishes, primarily stocks and braising, as its acidity helps balance rich and savory foods or sweet desserts. Cheaper wines can be better in some cases, such as if you are only using a small amount or it will be overpowered be stronger flavours. When the wine is a main part of the dish and can affect the final taste, opting for a pricier choice may work better in your favour when it comes to affecting the flavour. If you are looking for a good wine pairing or a good wine for cooking check out Vincenzo’s website or in store for some great options.

Anchovies

Many people dismiss anchovies thinking they are merely gross fish like sardines that add nothing to a dish, or are used so rarely they do not matter. However, anchovies are in more dish than you would think and can add a lot to a dish as they provide a salty and oil like flavour that you normally would not be able to achieve. They are used in small quantities to flavour many dishes and because of their strong flavour they are also a common ingredient in sauces and condiments, such as Cesar dressing.

Anchovies are typically sold in cans or tins packed with slat and oil which help provide them with their signature taste. You can also often find them wrapped around capers or in paste form which is used in sauces. Anchovies are used in many dishes such as pizza, some lasagnas, pastas, salads, or as a simple topping for bread or crackers. Grab a can from Vincenzo’s website or store and pick form our many options.