is italian food normally spicy?

Question

i am Italian, and whenever we eat italian, we always have hot pepper, and my uncle is straight from italy, and only uses the hottest peppers on his food, and i tend to like spicy foods, and we always joke, saying your not true italian if you dont like spicy foods. do other italian families eat spicy foods?

Answer 1

No, actually, not: in some region (more in southern Italy) there are spicy dishes as part of their tradition, but *generally*, no. The vast majority of Italian food is not spicy.
Calabria is the region more known for spicy food, also Puglia (Apulia) and Sicily.

Answer 2

Italian cuisine is usually not that spicy. Ir can be spicy for the mild eater, but usually the only thing one should taste that is closest to being spicy is pepper. Not chilil peppers or the spicy peppers that your uncle uses (although spicy peppers are used much around Italy). From what I've seen, freshly grounded black pepper is used.

If food becomes spicy to the extent of your uncle's peppers, the food may become too overwhelming. The only thing your mouth and your tongue will be able to feel will be the spicyness. Therefore, you will not be able to savour and taste your food the way you may want to. So, freshly grounded black pepper is usually used, from what I've seen.It allows you to you enjoy the taste of Italian cuisine, while at the same time, taste a milder form of the spicyness you and your uncle enjoys so much.

Answer 3

No. It is not spicy, at least 99% of it.
But Calabria has the famous "Arrabbiata" sauce for pasta, made with a local variety of red chilis- and it can be really very hot.
Puglia also has its own variety of red chilis, and so does Tuscany, where occasionally one comes across "il peperoncino rosso", similar to the Thai bird chili. They are probably used by the new immigrant population, and one day surely they'll become part of the Italian cuisine as well.
I have not come across anyone in Sicily ever eating hot and spicy stuff, and neither in Tuscany, where i am from.
I think chilis may be restricted to some farming communities throughout Italy - or the very trendy new restaurants.

Answer 4

Hi I live in Italy. What part of Italy is your family from? I've seen that they eat spicy food in some southern regions like Sicily and Calabria, but not in the north. So, yes spicy food is eating in some areas of Italy but not all.

Answer 5

Pinguino and survival are correct Italian food is NOT normally spicy. I am Italian and I can further confirm that it is a regional thing. My grandparents are from San Marino (which is central northeast) My grandmother never made one single spicy dish.

Answer 6

i am italian too but when my moms side of the family cooks, its usually not spicy. we just use a lot of herby cheeses and meats. i think in some parts of italy they use a lot of spices, like southern italy by the mediterranian. but generally its not that spicy.

Answer 7

yes Italian foods are normally spicy. i also know some italian people and they love spicy foods!!!

Answer 8

yes.. italian food can be pretty spicy. especially if you use hot peppers like your uncle. any italian restaurant always has spicy food. my friend is from italian descent and when i go to her house for dinner... i always need plain bread to cool down my tounge!

Answer 9

Yes. Most of the authentic recipes I've seen call for additional red pepper flakes in the mixture.

Answer 10

well my families have decendents from Italy and we were brought up as mexicans also so uh-oh bad combination hot sauce too hot to handle :*(