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  • Beetroot coloured pasta as primo piatto
  • Bulgur salad for primo piatto
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Primi piatti

Primi piatti refer to the first proper courses in a traditional Italian meal. We are talking pasta, gnocchi, soups, polenta, rice, omelets and other staples that can fill a hungry family on a low cost budget

In consequence primi piatti hit the table, before the expensive meat is served. Pizze is not normally part of the traditional meal structure, because it constitutes a full meal in itself. Besides pizza is rarely made at home, due to the lack of the indispensable forno a legna wood oven.

One-course meals

For those who haven’t got time or appetite for a full Italian meal on an every day basis, primi piatti can also be served as one-course meals. In most cases this means there is a minimal amount of meat involved, though the dishes are rarely strictly vegetarian. Italians like to flavour their primi piatti with a little ham or anchovies in order to get a richer taste.

Primi piatti as one course meals are an exception in most Italian families. They will generally have a salad, some leftovers or a slice of sausage for starters, before digging into the main dish. And they will almost always have a piece of fruit for dessert. On Sundays and in connection with Christmas and Easter people still enjoy a proper 4 course meal or more.

Barley salad with apples, kohlrabi and hazelnuts

Barley salad with apples, kohlrabi and hazelnuts

https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Barley-salad-with-apples-kohlrabi-and-hazelnuts-3.jpg 240 600 Mette https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/logo.jpg Mette2016-11-16 16:15:152017-01-08 13:11:05Barley salad with apples, kohlrabi and hazelnuts
Photo of Ragù of lamb with cicoria and pecorino

Ragù of lamb with cicoria and pecorino

https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Ragù-of-lamb-with-cicoria-and-pecorino-3.jpg 281 800 Mette https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/logo.jpg Mette2016-11-02 18:44:522017-02-19 12:32:36Ragù of lamb with cicoria and pecorino
Photo of spaghetti all’amatricianaItalian Notes

Spaghetti all’amatriciana

https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Spaghetti-all’amatriciana-3.jpg 320 800 Mette https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/logo.jpg Mette2016-09-21 17:41:412016-10-08 12:24:10Spaghetti all’amatriciana
Spaghetti with mozzarella and tomatoesItalian Notes

Spaghetti with mozzarella and tomatoes

https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Spaghetti-with-mozzarella-and-tomatoes-1.jpg 400 1500 Mette https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/logo.jpg Mette2016-06-23 17:48:442019-11-03 14:49:18Spaghetti with mozzarella and tomatoes
Asparagus Cappelletti with Cheese SauceItalian Notes

Pasta Recipe: Asparagus Cappelletti with Cheese Sauce

https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Asparagus-Cappelletti-with-Cheese-Sauce_3-21.jpg 400 1500 Mette https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/logo.jpg Mette2016-05-11 17:00:492017-07-29 16:41:20Pasta Recipe: Asparagus Cappelletti with Cheese Sauce
Image of Fettuccine with peppers from Senise

Fettuccine with peppers from Senise and a crunchy topping

https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Fettuccine-with-peppers-1.jpg 320 800 Mette https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/logo.jpg Mette2016-02-24 19:15:002017-01-14 15:59:47Fettuccine with peppers from Senise and a crunchy topping
Salad with Lentils, Peas and MaizeItalian Notes

Salad with Lentils, Peas and Maize

https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Salad-with-Lentils-Peas-and-Maize-1.jpg 320 800 Mette https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/logo.jpg Mette2016-01-27 18:54:522018-11-20 18:29:35Salad with Lentils, Peas and Maize
Garganelli pasta with agretti

Garganelli Pasta with Agretti

https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Garganelli-pasta-with-agretti-2.jpg 267 1000 Mette https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/logo.jpg Mette2016-01-20 18:38:492016-10-08 13:36:35Garganelli Pasta with Agretti
Gnocchi with butter and sage - Italian Notes

Gnocchi recipe with butter and sage

https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/gnocchi.jpg 360 960 Mette https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/logo.jpg Mette2016-01-11 09:16:332018-11-20 18:11:27Gnocchi recipe with butter and sage
Pasta with Pumpkin Recipe

Pasta with Pumpkin

https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Pasta-with-Pumpkin-Recipe-2.jpg 320 800 Mette https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/logo.jpg Mette2015-12-02 19:01:022016-10-10 18:07:02Pasta with Pumpkin
Salad with black rice, maize and avocado

Salad with black rice, maize and avocado

https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Salad-with-black-rice-maize-and-avocado.jpg 240 600 Mette https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/logo.jpg Mette2015-10-28 18:09:202017-11-11 13:29:48Salad with black rice, maize and avocado
Linguine with fresh fava beans

Linguine with fresh fava beans

https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Linguine-with-fresh-fava-beans-2-e1429350359756.jpg 800 800 Mette https://italiannotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/logo.jpg Mette2015-10-21 19:37:422018-08-23 19:33:12Linguine with fresh fava beans
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4 replies
  1. Paige
    Paige says:
    March 4, 2018 at 2:24 pm

    are any of these traditional meals

    Reply
    • Mette
      Mette says:
      March 4, 2018 at 6:32 pm

      Most of the courses are traditional in some part of Italy, but a traditional Italian meal normally consists of an antipasto followed by a primo course followed by a secondo meat course ending with a dolce dessert.

      Reply
    • Vee
      Vee says:
      June 19, 2018 at 8:28 pm

      I think these are the most authentic recipes I can find online in English. I was in Italy last Summer and was stunned by Italian cuisine. Thank you Italian Notes for gathering all the recipes, they are so much better than those fake American-Italian recipes on other websites.

      Reply
      • Mette
        Mette says:
        November 6, 2018 at 8:20 am

        You’re too kind, but I try my best and I really appreciate the feed-back.

        Reply

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Antipasti recipes - Italian NotesANTIPASTI RECIPES

Primi Piatti - Italian Notes

PRIMI PIATTI

Secondi piatti - Italian Notes

SECONDI PIATTI

Dolci - Italian Notes

DOLCI

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