16 Tuscan foods to try

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The Tuscan cuisine, particularly Florentine, is a celebration of simplicity and high-quality ingredients. Rooted in peasant tradition, it highlights local products such as olive oil, unsalted bread, robust meats, and fresh vegetables.
In Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, iconic dishes like bistecca alla fiorentina or lampredotto reflect culinary expertise where taste prevails over embellishment. In Tuscany, from rustic soups like ribollita to delicate desserts like zuccotto, each recipe tells a story of local heritage, conviviality, and seasonal respect.

This list of 16 dishes illustrates the richness and diversity of this timeless cuisine, where tradition meets excellence.

Starters / Antipasti

Black crostini with Tuscan liver (crostini di fegatini)

Typical Tuscan holiday appetizer, made with chicken livers, capers, and anchovies. Served on unsalted Tuscan bread, each family has its own recipe. A classic that brings diners together through simplicity and rich flavor.

Lardo di Colonnata

Originating from the village of Colonnata, this pinkish-white lard, aged in marble rubbed with garlic, is flavored with herbs and spices (rosemary, sage, cinnamon). Once a workers’ dish, it is enjoyed in thin slices on toasted bread.

Panzanella

Tuscan summer dish based on stale bread, ripe tomatoes, onion, and basil. Simple yet flavorful, it may include cucumbers or tuna, with a modern version where the bread is toasted for extra crunch.

Pappardelle with wild boar (pappardelle al cinghiale)

Wide Tuscan pasta served with a rich wild boar sauce, simmered with red wine, tomatoes, onions, and herbs such as rosemary. A rustic and hearty dish, emblematic of the Maremma region.

Beans “all’uccelletto”

Cannellini beans cooked in a tomato sauce flavored with sage and garlic, sometimes accompanied by sausages. This simple yet comforting dish is a classic on Tuscan tables, often served as a side or starter.

Main Courses / Secondi

Florentine steak (bistecca alla fiorentina)

Grilled Chianina veal, served rare, seasoned only with salt and pepper after cooking. Famous for its simplicity, this dish is a Tuscan culinary symbol described by Pellegrino Artusi.

Cacciucco

Fish soup from Livorno, originally created to use unsold small fish. Long to prepare, it is served with toasted garlic-rubbed bread, offering a perfect balance of sea flavors.

Tripes and lampredotto

Florentine street specialties: lampredotto (bovine abomasum) is served in a sandwich with green sauce, the bread soaked in broth. Tripe, cooked with tomato, is eaten hot with Chianti.

Peposo

Beef stew slowly cooked in Chianti red wine with plenty of black pepper, garlic, and herbs. Originating from Impruneta, this hearty dish was once prepared by tile oven workers.

Florentine-style roast pork (arista alla fiorentina)

Pork roast flavored with rosemary, garlic, and fennel, slow-cooked for tender and juicy meat. The dish’s name reportedly comes from a 1430 council in Florence and is a staple of Tuscan family meals.

Soups / Primi

Pappa al pomodoro

Iconic summer soup with tomatoes, stale Tuscan bread, garlic, olive oil, and basil. The quality of the ingredients and the soft texture of Tuscan bread make this dish unique and versatile.

Ribollita

Tuscan winter soup with stale bread, cannellini beans, black cabbage, vegetables, and olive oil. Best eaten the next day after reheating several times, hence the name “ribollita” (reboiled).

Desserts / Dolci

Castagnaccio

Autumn dessert made with chestnut flour, pine nuts, rosemary, and oil. Sometimes enhanced with orange peel or raisins, its flavor reflects the essence of Tuscan autumn.

Cantuccini

Crunchy almond biscuits from Prato, often served with Vin Santo for dipping. These dry biscotti are an iconic Tuscan dessert, perfect to conclude a meal.

Zuccotto

Florentine dome-shaped dessert made with sponge cake soaked in liqueur (often Alchermes), filled with whipped cream, ricotta, or chocolate. Decorated with cocoa or powdered sugar, it is fresh and elegant.

Grandmother’s tart (torta della nonna)

Classic custard tart topped with shortcrust pastry and pine nuts. This simple yet refined dessert, often flavored with lemon or vanilla, is a favorite in traditional Tuscan meals.

Information and Links

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