Last updated on November 27th, 2024
Winter does come with its drawbacks: shorter days, blustery weather and chapped hands.
But, you know what else winter brings? A ton of hearty, rich food to eat at restaurants in Italy (or make in your own home!).
Ciao! I’m Louisa and I have been spending my winters in Italy since 2012. Some of the best Italian food can be made and enjoyed in the winter when the days cool off and we can actually enjoy spending time in front of the oven.
Join me as I share with you my 6 favorite winter dishes in Italy to make (and order out at restaurants if you are traveling at this time of year). I will include where to try each one in Italy and my recipes to recreate this delicious winter Italian specialties at home.
So roll those sleeves up and let’s warm up together with some of the best and most famous winter dishes in Italy!
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Ribollita
(Pronounced ree-bohl-lee-tah in Italian)
Where To Eat It: 15 Restaurants to Try on Your First Trip to Florence or at a Tuscan Cooking Class
Ribollita is an age-old Tuscan vegetable soup enriched with stale bread and hearty cannellini beans, perfect for cold winter days in Italy. Like many traditional Tuscan dishes, it originates from the principle of wasting nothing. Much like pappa al pomodoro and panzanella, ribollita creatively repurposes day-old bread.
This substantial vegetable stew epitomizes cucina povera, an Italian philosophy that emphasizes creating nourishing and tasty dishes using local, seasonal ingredients. Ribollita exemplifies this by featuring the best of Tuscany’s winter produce, including kale, swiss chard, cabbage, olive oil, and cannellini beans.
Make it: Learn to make this vegan recipe with my step-by-step instructions in Authentic Tuscan Ribollita Recipe.
Canederli
(Pronounced kah-neh-dehr-lee in Italian)
Where To Eat Them: Mauriz Keller (Ortisei) or Vögele (Bolzano)
Canederli from Trentino-South Tyrol are among the most beloved and renowned regional dishes from northern Italy, originating from la cucina povera as a means to utilize old bread and provide a filling, hearty meal.
These dumplings are made from simple, everyday ingredients you are likely to have in your pantry starting with stale bread, flour, milk, and eggs. Canederli come prepared in different ways most commonly with Italian cheese, speck, and wild herbs, then cooked and served in a rich beef broth or a butter sauce. Use whatever ingredients you have on hand, keeping it simple. These are especially fun to make with kids!
Be sure to try these popular types of canederli:
- Canederli con speck – with speck
- Canederli con formaggio – with cheese
- Canederli con spinaci – with spinach
- Canederli ai funghi – with mushrooms.
Peposo
(Pronounced peh-POH-soh in Italian)
Where To Eat It: Where Locals Eat In Florence – Restaurants, Gelato, Pizza & Panini
Peposo is an intensely flavorful, peppery stew made with only six ingredients: quality marbled stewing beef, peppercorns, olive oil, garlic, salt, and Chianti wine, making it one of my favorite winter dishes in Italy to make.
This one pot meal is simmered slowly over low heat until the beef becomes tender enough to cut with a fork, immersed in a robust, peppery wine sauce. Traditionally, it’s accompanied by nothing more than a generous amount of bread, perfect for fare la scarpetta—the Italian tradition of using bread to soak up the delicious leftover sauce on your plate.
Make It: Learn to make this classic Florentine recipe – Brunelleschi’s Peposo. And if you love stews, you may also enjoy Traditional Italian Beef Stew (Spezzatino).
Lasagne
(Pronounced lah-sahn-yeh in Italian)
Where To Eat It: Bologna (Emilia Romagna)
Lasagne, a classic Italian baked pasta dish, features layers of flat egg pasta sheets combined with a variety of sauces such as meat ragù, béchamel, and sometimes an assortment of vegetables and cheeses, depending on the type of lasagne. Warm and rich, lasagne makes the top of the list for my favorite winter dishes in Italy to make and eat.
The most renowned version is lasagne alla Bolognese, originating from Bologna. This hearty lasagna consists of rich egg pasta sheets, a creamy béchamel sauce, and meat ragù.
Fact: The word lasagna in Italian means just one single sheet of flat lasagna pasta but the whole tray of lasagna is referred to as lasagne, the plural form of lasagna.
Polenta con Taleggio
(Pronounced poh-lehn-tah cohn tah-lehj-joh in Italian)
Where To Eat It: Lombardy
Polenta, a staple of Northern Italian cuisine, is a simple yet versatile dish made from coarsely ground cornmeal. Traditionally, it is prepared by slowly cooking the cornmeal in a large pot of salted boiling water. This process requires constant stirring to achieve a smooth, creamy texture. Right before serving, creamy taleggio cheese is added, creating a tangy and rich bite.
Polenta’s adaptability makes it a favorite comfort food to make in the winter months in Italy as a family. Cheese is our favorite but you can get creative with what you add including things like porcini mushrooms, truffles and speck.
Tortellini in Brodo
(Pronounced tohr-tehl-lee-nee in broh-doh in Italian)
Where To Eat It: All’Osteria Bottega in Bologna
Tortellini in brodo is the epitome of comfort food for both Italians and visitors alike. Freshly made tortellini stuffed pasta are simmered in a flavorful chicken or beef broth and topped with a dusting of Parmigiano Reggiano. With the advent of mass-produced tortellini available in grocery stores, this dish has become one of my favorite winter dishes in Italy to make.
I don’t suggest using store bought stock but go ahead and get the pre-made stuffed tortellini. The homemade broth is really what makes or breaks the dish so take the time to make it using bones and/or beef and chicken.
Tip: You don’t have to make broth just for this single meal. Make a big batch of broth by simmering a whole chicken and then use the tender chicken meat (once cooled) to make chicken salad or repurpose for another easy dinner recipe.
Which one of these winter dishes will you try first?
If you are traveling in Italy in the winter, you may also be interested to learn about the best foods to try in December – January – February and seasonal produce and Italian fruit to try in December – January – February.
