Typical autumn dishes that are healthier and lighter

Chestnuts, mushrooms, and pumpkin for the first courses.

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Autumn typical dishes scaled
Mushrooms, chestnuts, pumpkin, and truffles dominate autumn tables, serving traditional and healthy first courses. Meanwhile, meats like game and roasts are paired with omelettes with herbs or mushrooms. As for sweets, make way for chestnuts and apples. 

Typical and genuine first courses in autumn

Autumn first courses are often characterized by intense flavors and combinations of seasonal ingredients. Fresh pasta, in particular, finds a perfect ally in autumn recipes. Among the healthiest and most authentic autumn first courses are:
  • Risotto with porcini mushrooms
  • Pasta with pumpkin 
  • Legume soup (lentils, beans, chickpeas)
  • Chestnut or pumpkin ravioli
  • Autumn minestrone with seasonal vegetables (pumpkin, cabbage, potatoes, leeks)

At this stage, wine plays an important role, accompanying meals with a distinctive freshness, as in the case of new wine. Follow this link.  to learn more about new wine.

Typical and genuine second courses in autumn

Game, like roast meats, are among the protagonists of autumn second courses. Thanks to its robustness, meats pair perfectly with richer sauces and side dishes, such as potatoes and mushrooms. In many Italian regions, wild boar stew or braised beef are traditionally prepared, dishes that require long cooking and deliver intense flavors. Truffles, an autumnal treasure, also enrich many of these dishes with their unmistakable aroma and versatility. Another specialty is stuffed quail, often accompanied by seasonal vegetables such as cabbage and pumpkin. 

But there are also dishes that feature ingredients rich in nutrients, such as pumpkin and chestnuts. For example:

  • Roast pork with apples or chestnuts
  • Stew with polenta
  • Stewed wild boar (in mountain areas)
  • Mushroom or wild herb omelette

Soups in autumn

It's impossible to talk about autumn cuisine without mentioning soups and minestrone. These warm dishes are the perfect refuge on colder days and capture all the richness of autumnal flavors. Chestnut soup, for example, is an ancient recipe still enjoyed today in many regions. Equally popular is Tuscan ribollita, a soup made with vegetables and stale bread that speaks to the peasant origins of Italian cuisine. These dishes, despite their simplicity, manage to convey a sense of warmth and well-being, typical of autumn evenings spent with family or friends..

Typical and healthy autumn desserts

For healthy and tasty autumn desserts, add a traditional seasonal ingredient to chestnuts and pumpkin: apples.
Among the autumn desserts we would like to point out:
  • Chestnut or apple tart
  • Pumpkin pie
  • chestnut cake (typical Tuscan dessert, made with chestnut flour, pine nuts and raisins)

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