Essential Ingredients
of Southern Italy

To make authentic Southern Italian meals, you must start with the necessary ingredients. Below are some key ingredients specific to these regions. Visit our La Cucina section for a full list of ingredients that will help you prepare recipes from across the entire country of Italy.

General Ingredients
  • Tomatoes
  • Eggplant
  • Fennel
  • Olives
  • Capers
  • Salt Cod
  • Anchovies
  • Garlic
  • Pine Nuts
  • Almonds
  • Lemon
  • Oregano
  • Basil
  • Currants
  • Raisins

Eggplant

Different sizes, shapes and colors (purple, green, or white, and orange)

Cheeses
  • Buffalo Mozzarella
  • Fiore di Latte
  • Fresh Ricotta
  • Ricotta Salata
  • Ricotta Forte
  • Cacciocavalo
  • Pecorino Romano
  • Pecorino Sardo
  • Pecorino Siciliano
  • Burrata
  • Scamorza

Buffalo Mozzarella

Cheese made from the milk of the domestic water buffalo.

Grains
  • Durum Flour
  • Type 00 flour
  • Chickpeas
  • Cannellini Beans
  • Polenta

Chickpeas

High in protein; one of the earliest cultivated vegetables.

Oils
  • Olive Oil
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
 Olive Oil

Olive Oil

Fruit oil obtained from the olive; used for cooking.

Spices
  • Red Pepper
  • Black Pepper
  • Sea Salt
  • Anise
  • Nutmeg

Nutmeg

This spice has a nutty, warm and slightly sweet flavor.

Vinegars
  • Red Wine Vinegar
  • White Vinegar

Red Wine Vinegar

Some are quite costly, reflecting their extremely high quality.