Italian Ingredients to Stock in Your Pantry for Everyday Cooking

Having authentic Italian ingredients in your pantry brings exceptional Italian cuisine into your kitchen, making it easy to prepare classic Italian dishes any day. With readily available ingredients like olive oil and fresh basil, you can spice up your meals with genuine Italian flavour every time.

So, what are the must-haves for creating delicious Italian recipes at home? Read more to learn about the Italian ingredients that add an authentic taste to your homemade pizza, pasta, and beyond!

Italian Ingredients for Pizza

Pizza is the go-to of Italian cuisine. To make great pizzas, you need to get these ingredients ready:

Mozzarella Cheese

Mozzarella is essential for crafting an authentic Italian pizza. It melts beautifully, creating that classic stretch and creaminess loved across Italy.

Neapolitan pizzas that are popular for their soft, thin crusts wouldn't be the same without this cheese.

Baked in a high-temperature oven, mozzarella pairs perfectly with classic pizza topping ideas like tomato and basil.

This ingredient is found in many pizza Fitzroy variations, such as Margherita or Quattro Formaggi (Four-Cheese).

Prosciutto

Prosciutto crudo, also known as only Prosciutto, is a staple in Italian pizza toppings. This cured meat is served thinly sliced—perfect for pizza.

Italians love adding prosciutto after baking for a fresh, melt-in-the-mouth texture. Alternatively, placing it in the oven gives a crisp finish.

Other famous Italian menu items with this ingredient are prosciutto e, rucola prosciutto, and mushrooms.

Eggplant

Eggplant, or melanzane, is a popular, healthy alternative for an Italian vegan or vegetarian pizza. It brings a smoky depth when roasted and is best paired with parmigiana or parmesan for an earthy flavour.

Italians often enjoy eggplant in dishes like parmigiana, which layers beautifully with tomato and parmesan. Thin slices of eggplant also offer a unique light texture as a pizza topping.

Truffle Oil

If you want to bring out the best flavours in any Italian dishes that you're cooking, truffle oil is a great addition. Just drizzle it over your pizza to add a rich aroma and unique, enhanced taste.

Italians often use truffle oil to finish pizzas and pasta. For the best flavour, add this oil just before serving. This will allow the aroma to blend perfectly with the warm pizza.

You'll find this ingredient in truffle mushroom pizza and white truffle pizza.

Basil

Fresh basil is a must-have herb that adds crisp, aromatic flavour to Italian pizzas—perfect for finishing. Pizza Napoletana and Pizza Caprese are some infamous basil toppings options.

For a softened taste, add basil before baking. Italians often prefer basil as a garnish after baking, which keeps its fresh, peppery flavour intact.

Italian Ingredients for Pasta

As we're done with essential Italian ingredients for pizza, it's time to get into pasta essentials. What are they? Here are some must-haves that will elevate your pasta dishes.

Napoli Sauce

Also known as Neapolitan sauce or salsa di pomodoro, Napoli sauce is a staple in Italian cooking. Made from tomatoes, olive oil, and fresh herbs, this pasta sauce is both simple and full of flavour.

Many Italian restaurants use it in dishes like spaghetti, penne, and rigatoni, allowing the sauce's tangy, hearty taste to shine. This sauce is also commonly used in Italian pasta menus for creating dishes like Spaghetti al Pomodoro.

Ricotta Salata

This is a firm, aged cheese that is slated for a tangy, slightly sweet flavour. Unlike fresh ricotta, this cheese holds its shape when grated, making it perfect for pasta. Ricotta Salata adds a salty punch to dishes like Pasta alla Norma, where it balances the eggplant and tomato flavours beautifully.

White Wine

It’s commonly used in Italian pasta menus like Fettuccine Alfredo and Spaghetti alle Vongole, where it brings out the delicate flavours of seafood or creamy sauces.

When cooking, Italians often reach for high-quality, dry white wine, which reduces to a light, slightly tangy flavour. It also helps to bring out the savoury notes of garlic, onion, and herbs.

Fresh Seafood

Seafood is a star ingredient in many Italian pasta dishes, especially along the coastal regions. Seafood pasta recipes like Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare and Linguine alle Vongole showcase seafood’s natural sweetness.

Italian restaurants often use a mix of mussels, clams, and prawns, all ideal for cooking with pasta.

Parsley

This is a fresh herb that adds a bright, earthy note. It's a key ingredient in pasta dishes like Spaghetti Aglio e Olio, where it enhances the garlic and olive oil flavours, or Pasta alle Vongole, adding a hint of freshness to the seafood. Many Italians add parsley just before serving for its crisp texture and aroma.

So, are you ready to stock up on these Italian ingredients in your pantry for everyday cooking? With these common ingredients ready, you'll get the best Italian food you'll ever make, from pizza to pasta and more!

For a hassle-free option, skip cooking from scratch and enjoy our Italian cuisine by ordering online or booking a table at Piccolino Woodfired Pizza and Homemade Pasta, the best restaurant Fitzroy North. Enjoy the taste of Italy delivered to your table at our best Italian restaurant Fitzroy North!