Cuisine of Liguria

Ligurian cuisine consists of dishes from the culinary tradition of Liguria, a region of northwestern Italy, which makes use of ingredients linked both to local production (such as preboggion, a mixture of wild herbs), and to imports from areas with which, over the centuries, the Ligurians have had frequent trade (such as Sardinian pecorino, one of the ingredients of pesto).

Trenette al pesto
Cappon magro
La cuciniera genovese (1877)
Arbanella with salted anchovies
Farinata di ceci
Coniglio alla ligure (with olives and pine nuts)
Olio di oliva della Riviera
Pesto
Linguine with pesto
Trofie with pesto
Agliata with cauliflower
Salsa alle noci
Focaccia alla genovese
Focaccia al formaggio
Focaccia con le cipolle
Pissaladière
Panissa
Farinata
Torta pasqualina
Polpette di melanzane
Stuffed vegetables
Steak tartare
Sant'Olcese salami
Stuffed anchovies
Anchovy paste
Canestrelli

Characteristics

Ligurian cuisine is affected by the geomorphological characteristics of its territory. It makes use of ingredients coming from the sea as well as game and meat. Ligurian cuisine has transformed over the centuries in relation to the socio-economic situation of the region. The scarcity of cattle pastures forced the Ligurians to develop dishes based on alternative ingredients such as fish and herbs, to which game was subsequently added.[1] Ligurians pair their meat condiments based on wild or cultivated herbs, among which pesto stands out, which is used both as a sauce for pasta as well as being added to autumnal soups with a variety of fresh vegetables.[2] Also important are the many savoury pies with vegetables, the most famous of which are the pasqualina cake, the ripieni and focaccia traditionally filled with stracchino cheese known as focaccia col formaggio. There are dishes based on ingredients such as herbs or chestnuts traditionally eaten by farmers.[3]The preservation of food and therefore the use of Mason jars is fundamental in Ligurian cuisine, traditionally filled with mushrooms in oil, jams, honey, salted anchovies, brined foods, and dips.[4]

Starters (antipasti)

Sauces

Pasta, rice and soups

Fish

Meats

Vegetables

Cheeses

Fruits

Fruits and fruit salad is usually paired with sweet, white or red wines.

Desserts

Drinks

  • Beer[63][64]
  • Rose syrup from Valle Scrivia[65]
  • Amaretto di Portofino
  • Amaretto di Sassello[66]
  • Amaro Camatti
  • Amaro Santa Maria al Monte
  • Basilichito
  • Chinotto[67]
  • Distillato di prugna di Varese Ligure[68]
  • Erba Luisa or Cedrina
  • Grappa delle Cinque Terre
  • Limonata di Portofino
  • Limoncino delle Cinque Terre
  • Basil liquor[69]
  • Perseghin
  • Cider
  • Sambuca

Wines from the Imperia province

Wines from the Savona province

Wines from the Genoa province

Wines from the La Spezia province

Bibliography

References