We all know that, to the great envy of many, Italy has produced some of the most famous and delicious dishes in the world. From lasagne and risotto to tiramisu and gelato, the legendary Italian cuisine has really made its mark in the culinary world.

It’s no surprise, then, that people all over the world as keen to incorporate Italian cooking into their homes. Luckily for those of us who weren’t born with Italian citizenship, it’s really easy to create some amazing dishes in their style, which is why we’ve put together this guide giving you 3 great tips to help you cook like an Italian native!

Use top quality ingredients

Not only do the Italians often use the freshest ingredients they can get their hands on, their ingredients also tend to be of the highest-quality.

We spoke to Italian cuisine experts at Bella Cosa who said: “Italian food is often very simplistic, so the flavour often depends on the quality of the ingredients you’re using, especially the key ingredient to the dish, so this always has to be the best you can buy.”

“In fact, Italians are known for spending that little bit extra on food compared to Brits and this really shows in their cooking. So, if you can, splashing out on some really delicious, quality ingredients can change the way you eat.”

Make sure you cook your pasta al dente

Italians famously eat their pasta al dente, which translates to English as ‘to the tooth’. Al dente pasta is firm to the touch but soft in the middle.

Amongst the benefits of eating al dente pasta, pasta eaten this way is better for your blood sugar as firm pasta takes longer to digest, which is wonderful news for diabetics.

Cooking your pasta al dente is so simple but, if you’re not sure how to perfect it, this video from Howcast can put you on the right path.

Grow your own herbs

Whether you do this on your windowsill or in your garden, growing your own herbs is certainly a part of the Italian way which could definitely improve your cooking. Thyme, sage, rosemary, bay leaves, basil, oregano, and parsley are all commonly used in Italian cuisine, so it’s important that you make good use of them for your cooking to taste authentic.

Herbs are used to add flavour, texture, and sometimes even colour to dishes and, as a general rule of thumb, fresh is best. With that in mind, growing your own herbs at home can be more cost-effective than buying them at the supermarket.

If you don’t have green fingers, don’t worry; growing herbs both indoors and outdoors can be relatively simple. For some useful tips and advice, this guide from Thompson & Morgan will tell you everything you need to know.

Many Italians believe that food tastes better with family so if you’re going to put these tips in place in your home, try to cook for a crowd!