A complete guide to

Italian Bread

As the king of carbs, Italy's love affair with bread is unsurprising — you won't find an Italian meal that doesn't include a loaf of some type. From scrumptiously fluffy focaccia to crispy flavoursome taralli, every type of il pane packs a punch in its own way, with a breadmaking tradition that can be traced back all the way to the Romans.

Italian bread Recipes Our recipe boxes

Our favourite

Italian Bread Recipes

Italian bread, like every other element of the cuisine, is part of a centuries-old tradition that has been perfected for generations. Most Italian loaves are proofed for hours, creating a thin, crispy crust and fluffy, moist interior, ideal for absorbing olive oil and vinegar. However, many delicacies don't fit within this general rule, like the Sardinian flatbread Pane Carasau or crunchy grissini breadsticks. Whether it's for a snack or mouthwatering sandwich, you can never go wrong with an Italian bread.

BREAD RECIPE

How to Make the Best Ciabatta

Serves: 3
Difficulty: EASY

BREAD RECIPE

How to make our classic bruschetta

Serves: 4
Difficulty: Easy

Bread Recipe

How to make our easy rosemary focaccia

Serves: 4-6
Difficulty: Easy

Bread Recipe

Our 3 favourite focaccia recipes

Serves: 4
Difficulty: Easy

BREAD RECIPE

How to make the best piadina flatbread

Serves: 6
Difficulty: Easy

Bread Recipe

How to make taralli bread

Serves: Approx 30 taralli
Difficulty: Easy

Bread Recipe

How to make Italian style grissini

Serves: Approx 25 grissini
Difficulty: Easy

Bread Recipe

How to Make Pane Carasau (Sardinian Flatbread)

Serves: 5-6
Difficulty: EASY

Bread Recipe

How to make gluten-free farinata

Serves: 2 flatbreads
Difficulty: Easy

Bread Recipe

How to make focaccia di Recco

Serves: 4
Difficulty: EASY

“BUONO COME IL PANE.”
- As good as bread, Italian idiom

Seasonal Bread Recipes

CHRISTMAS RECIPE

How to make panettone

Serves: MAKES 1 MEDIUM PANETTONE
Difficulty: INTERMEDIATE

EASTER RECIPE

How to make Colomba Pasquale

Serves: 4-5
Difficulty: EASY

CHRISTMAS RECIPE

How to Make the Best Pandoro

Serves: MAKES 1 MEDIUM PANDORO
Difficulty: INTERMEDIATE

EASTER RECIPE

How to make Roberta's Italian Easter Bread

Serves: 6
Difficulty: INTERMEDIATE

CHRISTMAS RECIPE

5 Ways to Use Leftover Panettone

CHRISTMAS RECIPE

5 Ways to Eat & Serve Panettone

WATCH OUR VIDEO

How to make
Focaccia

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Chef Roberta and our Graphic Designer Salem Khazali show us how to make a delicious recipe from Roberta’s home-region: Classic Focaccia alla Pugliese.

READ FULL RECIPE

Italian Bread FAQs

Why is bread so popular in Italy?

Bread is a staple of Italian cuisine, with almost every meal featuring it in some way. This isn't just because of how delicious it is — it also holds a huge religious, cultural and historical significance. Bread was so important during Roman times that emperors used to joke that the best way to keep people content was with "panem et circenses" (bread and circuses), so much so that they were also responsible for the milling practices we use today to make white bread.

Choose Your Pasta

Which type of bread is used for sandwiches in Italy?

While different types exist in various regions of the country, ciabatta has become almost synonymous with sandwich bread across Italy. The well-seasoned soft bread is also popular for dipping into pasta sauce. Other popular options include focaccia, which is preferred for paninis, while piadina is often used for stuffing with cheese, butter or jams.

Choose Your Pasta

What is the best topping for bruschetta?

Bruschetta is one of the most recognisable Italian antipasti. While it is traditionally made from a slice of grilled bread finished with olive oil as a way for it to be sampled by its makers, today, the bruschetta has evolved. The dish is now mostly served with fresh tomatoes and garlic to accompany the olive oil — make sure you get good quality tomatoes to really make the flavours pop.

Read our guide to Italian antipasti

PASTA DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR

FRESH ITALIAN
RECIPE BOXES

Bread is indeed present in every meal in Italy, but it must be accompanied by other decadent dishes. Our weekly menu below is a great place to start your dinner plans, with our range of succulent regional dishes that will make you want to lick the sauce off of your fingers — or dip your ciabatta in.

SHOP NOW