Campania Italian Cooking

Campania | Naples & the Amalfi Coast

Campanian cuisine represents the foundation of southern Italian cooking, built around tomatoes, olive oil, wheat, and fresh dairy, with distinct city traditions that define how the food is known worldwide. In Naples, dishes like Neapolitan pizza and spaghetti al pomodoro set the standard for tomato-forward cooking rooted in simplicity, while the surrounding countryside is synonymous with mozzarella di bufala and pasta dishes finished quickly and confidently. Along the coast, seafood preparations like pasta alle vongole reflect Campania’s connection to the Mediterranean. Together, these cities shape a cuisine that is bold, direct, and expressive—driven by peak ingredients and confident technique rather than complexity.

Key Ingredients in Campanian Cuisine

Campanian cuisine is built around tomatoes, olive oil, and wheat, supported by fresh cow and buffalo dairy, including mozzarella di bufala. Seafood, pork, and vegetables feature prominently, alongside garlic, oregano, and basil used with confidence rather than restraint. Ingredients emphasize freshness, acidity, and bold, direct flavor.

Key Techniques in Campanian Cooking

Campanian cooking is about doing a few things confidently and letting ingredients speak.

• Sauces & Bases
  Tomato sauces are cooked quickly and decisively, preserving acidity and freshness rather than reducing them into heaviness.
  You know it from: spaghetti al pomodoro
• Bread & Dough
  High-hydration wheat doughs are mixed, fermented, and baked at extreme heat to create light, elastic crusts with char and structure.
  You know it from: Neapolitan pizza
• Sautéing
  Garlic and aromatics are briefly cooked in olive oil to build flavor without bitterness, often as the opening move of a dish.
  You know it from: pasta alle vongole
• Braising & Slow Cooking
  Select dishes rely on long, gentle cooking to deepen flavor while keeping ingredients intact and purposeful.
  You know it from: ragù napoletano