What to Eat in Piedmont: 10 Typical Dishes

Piedmont is a northern Italian region that excels in both food and wine. In fact, Piedmont's wine, local produce and culinary specialities make the area one of Italy's most popular destinations, for all seasons.

This splendid and flourishing territory, which stretches from the Langhe to the mountains, is made up of truffles, grapes, hazelnuts and so much more. It also has an ancient tradition of recipes and culinary techniques.

Here are 10 typical Piedmontese dishes to try on a visit to the region.

10 typical Piedmontese dishes to try 

Salsa verde

Also called 'bagnetto verde', salsa verde is more than just an accompanying sauce. In fact, it's a typical Piedmontese dish with a character of its own. Based on parsley, the green sauce accompanies meat and fish, thanks to its perfect balance of egg, anchovies and other ingredients. 

Try making salsa verde with Fine Dining Lovers' Tried and Tasted recipe.

Bagna cauda

Bagna cauda is a stalwart of typical Piedmontese cooking. It's a garlic-based sauce that's kept warm on the table and is perfect for dipping raw seasonal vegetables. The contrast between the hot punchy sauce and the cold crunchy vegetables is a sensorial experience not to be missed.

Here's a tasty bagna cauda recipe to try at home.

Bollito misto piemontese

Piedmont is also famous for its high-quality meat production. The large open spaces and clean air are the perfect conditions for raising top quality livestock. Which is where Piedmontese bollito misto, or boiled meat, comes in. It is traditionally prepared with seven different types of meat (five beef, one pork and one poultry meat cuts). In any typical Piedmontese restaurant, you will find the famous boiled meat cart, but to recognise the perfect bollito misto, here are five unmissable secrets.

Fritto misto alla piemontese

Another excellence among the typical dishes of Piedmont is a mix of deep-fried morsels. It is a light and crunchy deep-fried dish that is served in a single course and includes different cuts of meat, vegetables and fruit. Its secret is precisely this pleasant contrast between sweet and salty. 

Risotto al Barolo

As we have said, Piedmont is also a land of vines. The wine here is structured and generous, and that is why one of the typical Piedmontese first courses is risotto with Barolo. In this recipe, the quality of the rice is as important as the bottle you open to cook it, so pay attention to the choice of ingredients and these five tips for the perfect risotto.

Tajarin al tartufo

Still undecided on what to eat in Piedmont? Pasta with truffles should be at the top of your list, if they're in season. Yes, because here the seasons are marked by the white truffles of Alba, one of the most prestigious products in the world. Here is the tajarin with white truffle recipe to try at home.

Take a journey into the dark side of the white truffle.

Vitello tonnato

Among the typical Piedmontese starters, the famous vitello tonnato, also called vitel tonnè, cannot be missed. To prepare a perfect veal with tuna sauce you need to choose a nice cut of magatello that must be cooked to perfection and pink in the centre. The tuna sauce plays a fundamental role, and to prepare it you need to start with a hand-made mayonnaise.

Discover our top vitello tonnato tips.

Bicerin

We then move on to the typical Piedmontese sweets, which cannot be summarised in a short list. Among these is the bicerin, a typical coffee of the Turin capital, which is considered the father of today's cappuccino. Bicerin is made with coffee, chocolate and cream. A sweet way to start the day among Turin's beauty.

Bonet

Bonet is also one of the most famous Piedmontese sweets. Sinuous chocolate, almonds and macaroons make this dessert one of the most popular in the region.

Baci di dama

A special mention goes to baci di dama. These delicious, crumbly and buttery sweets are sandwiched together by a light chocolate spread. It's impossible to resist these 'lady's kisses' at any time of day.