Italian cuisine has a long history. Some food historians believe it can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, although the collapse of the Roman Empire means that we do not have a lot of information about the eating habits of those eras.
So there is no clear evidence for the origins of Italy's most famous food, pasta. Some historians believe that it could date back to Roman times, or even earlier. However, others suggest that it may have arrived from the Orient, introduced by Marco Polo in the thirteenth century.
This remained for many years a lower class food, usually boiled and eaten with just a small garnish of cheese. However, a minor culinary revolution was launched when Christopher Columbus returned from the Americas with tomatoes, sweet peppers, green beans and much, much more.
These foods, steadily introduced around the Mediterranean region, grew readily in the hot Italian climate, and after a time they were being mixed with local ingredients and incorporated into all manner of dishes, leading to the Italian cuisine that we know today.
What are the characteristics of this cuisine? Fresh produce and high-quality ingredients are the essence of Italian cooking. Foods are generally prepared in a simple manner that emphasizes taste. Olives and olive oil feature in numerous dishes.
And why is it so healthy? Certainly the abundant use of olive oil is a key factor. Italy's long coastline is another reason -- fresh fish features prominently in local cooking. The regular use of pulses, along with a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, is important. Meat is eaten sparingly. Wine is consumed, but together with meals and in moderation.
There is more, but those are the basics. Eat like an Italian, do regular exercise and enjoy a balanced social and family life, and you could be on the way to a much healthier lifestyle.
Article by Scotts Digital - top online marketing companies in Singapore. Specially for www.cirrusculinnaire.com that specialised in ready cooked italian dishes in Singapore
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