--- title: "Regional Italian Cuisine: Lombardy" description: Paesana treks upward on the map to cultivate the many flavors of the northern Italian countryside. image: https://www.paesana.com/hubfs/Blog/Landscape%20view%20of%20Bergama%20Alta%20skyline%20in%20Italy.jpg --- [![Paesana Logo](https://www.paesana.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/paesana-flat-logo.png?noresize&width=180&name=paesana-flat-logo.png)](https://www.paesana.com/) [pasta](https://www.paesana.com/blog/topic/pasta), [italian food](https://www.paesana.com/blog/topic/italian-food), [pork](https://www.paesana.com/blog/topic/pork), [italian desserts](https://www.paesana.com/blog/topic/italian-desserts), [veal](https://www.paesana.com/blog/topic/veal), [beef](https://www.paesana.com/blog/topic/beef), [regional](https://www.paesana.com/blog/topic/regional) # Regional Italian Cuisine: Lombardy Paesana treks upward on the map to cultivate the many flavors of the northern Italian countryside. By [Paesana](https://www.paesana.com/blog/author/paesana) 01.22.21 | 2 min read [![Landscape view of Bergama Alta skyline in Italy](https://www.paesana.com/hubfs/Blog/Landscape%20view%20of%20Bergama%20Alta%20skyline%20in%20Italy.jpg)](https://www.paesana.com/blog/regional-italian-cuisine-lombardy) [** Blog](https://www.paesana.com/blog) From our last stop in [Emilia-Romagna](https://www.paesana.com/blog/italian-regional-cuisine-emilia-romagna), we travel even further north to Lombardy region, perhaps most well known for its capital of Milan. While that city is renowned as the fashion and business center of Italy, the lush landscapes of Lombardy provide some of the best provincial cuisines found anywhere in the country. As it is in other regions, Lombard food is influenced greatly by available ingredients, climate, and the tastes and preparation methods of the many generations that have called the region home. But specific to this region, we see a menu of food that presents big, bold, hearty ingredients that help stave off the cold weather—as opposed to bright, red tomatoes of southern regions like [Sicily](https://www.paesana.com/blog/regional-italian-cuisine-sicily).  **Let’s take a look at five hand-picked food items from Lombardy, an Italian region unlike any other!** ### Risotto Lombardy’s Po River valley is covered by large swaths of rice paddies, which is exactly why risotto is the region’s most prevalent staple food. One of the region’s signature dishes is Risotto alla Milanese, a preparation that delivers silken creaminess of classic risotto, with a golden hue and singular flavor of luxurious saffron. But for a truly authentic taste of Lombardy, Risotto alla Milanese must be topped with unbelievably unctuous beef marrow—or as we like to call it, “meat butter.” ### Bresaola The affluent nature of the Lombardy region—certainly more than its southern counterparts—means that the area has plenty of expensive cuts of some of the finest meats in the land. Veal, pork, and beef are all on the table throughout Lombardy. One of the most famous preparations is bresaola, which is a lean dried salted beef from Valtellina, an Alpine valley in the region. Boasting perhaps the purest expression of true beef flavor that will ever hit your tongue, bresaola finds its way onto savory antipasti spreads.    > Lombard food is influenced greatly by available ingredients, climate, and the tastes and preparation methods of the many generations that have called the region home.   ### Veal Milanese More specific than our previous two entries, Veal Milanese is so decadently famous that it must be highlighted by name. Brilliant in its splendid simplicity, Veal Milanese is a flattened, bone-in veal cutlet dredged in egg and breadcrumbs, then flash-fried in butter. In essence, it’s the perfect mountain food and very similar to German schnitzel—which makes sense when you recognize the relatively short distance between Lombardy and it’s Germanic neighbor to the north. Following closely behind Veal Milanese in popularity is Veal Ossobuco alla Milanese.  ### Pumpkin Pumpkin is utilized in a number of preparations—most notably, as a stuffing for various forms of pasta. It’s in the Lombard city of Mantua that you’ll find the most expertly crafted pumpkin-stuffed pasta, namely Tortelli di zucca. The most eye-opening example of how sweet and savory flavors come together in a beautiful dance, this pasta dish features soft pillows filled with a purée of pumpkin that’s mixed with spices, Parmesan, crushed amaretti biscuits and mustard-spiked candied fruits. A truly unique taste of Lombardy. ### Panettone While we’ve previously featured Panettone in a blog about [Christmas desserts](https://www.paesana.com/blog/paesanas-five-favorite-holiday-desserts), we simply must mention it again here. You see, the most famous version of this sweet bread was born in Milan, where it is still made by hand, one-by-one via traditional means by artisanal bakers. The dome-shaped loaf is filled with a mix of raisins, candied orange, citron, and lemon zest, with some of the more extravagant versions bearing the inclusion of saffron. ###### Subscribe to the Blog ###### Featured Sauce [![Paesana Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce](https://www.paesana.com/hubfs/Sauce%20Photos/paesana-marinara-sauce.png) ###### Marinara ](https://www.paesana.com/products/pasta-sauce#products-1) ###### Featured Articles ###### Featured Articles - [![upclose shot of uncooked penne, ziti and rigatoni](https://www.paesana.com/hubfs/Blog/penne-ziti-rigatoni-uncooked-pasta-upclose.jpg)](https://www.paesana.com/blog/lets-talk-about-pasta-the-difference-between-penne-ziti-and-rigatoni) [Let’s Talk About Pasta: Comparing Penne, Ziti, and Rigatoni](https://www.paesana.com/blog/lets-talk-about-pasta-the-difference-between-penne-ziti-and-rigatoni) They look similar, but short-tube pasta, such as penne, ziti, and ... - [![assortment of dishes on a table including fish, spaghetti with seafood, bread](https://www.paesana.com/hubfs/Blog/feast-of-the-seven-fishes.jpg)](https://www.paesana.com/blog/feast-of-the-seven-fishes-an-italian-american-christmas-eve-legacy) [Feast Of The Seven Fishes: An Italian-American Christmas Eve Legacy](https://www.paesana.com/blog/feast-of-the-seven-fishes-an-italian-american-christmas-eve-legacy) Christmas is the time of traditions—like the Italian-American Feast ... - [![Penne ala vodka on plate with utensils and tomatoes on the side](https://www.paesana.com/hubfs/Blog/Blog-Template3.jpg)](https://www.paesana.com/blog/the-story-behind-the-sauce-vodka) [The Story Behind The Sauce: Vodka](https://www.paesana.com/blog/the-story-behind-the-sauce-vodka) Vodka sauce dishes such as penne alla vodka burst onto the Italian ... - [![Side by side shots of tortellini and ravioli dishes from overhead ](https://www.paesana.com/hubfs/Blog/Blog-Template.jpg)](https://www.paesana.com/blog/whats-the-difference-between-ravioli-tortellini) [What’s The Difference Between Ravioli & Tortellini?](https://www.paesana.com/blog/whats-the-difference-between-ravioli-tortellini) Ravioli are square and tortellini are ring shaped, but both make for ... - [![assortment of dried pastas ](https://www.paesana.com/hubfs/Blog/assortments-of-dry-and-fresh-pasta.jpg)](https://www.paesana.com/blog/fresh-pasta-vs.-dry-pasta-boiling-down-the-differences) [Fresh Pasta vs. Dry Pasta: Boiling Down The Differences](https://www.paesana.com/blog/fresh-pasta-vs.-dry-pasta-boiling-down-the-differences) When cooking an Italian meal, is fresh pasta or dry pasta the better ... - [![Closeup of osso buco made of cross cut veal shank with oranges and tomatoes](https://www.paesana.com/hubfs/Blog/Closeup-of-osso-buco-made-of-cross-cut-veal-shank-with-oranges-and-tomatoes.jpg)](https://www.paesana.com/blog/most-romantic-italian-meals) [Most Romantic Italian Meals](https://www.paesana.com/blog/most-romantic-italian-meals) Paesana’s top dishes to cook for someone you love on Valentine’s Day ... ![Paesana Logo](https://www.paesana.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/paesana-flat-logo.png?noresize&width=300&name=paesana-flat-logo.png) ###### About Paesana - [The Paesana Tradition](https://www.paesana.com/the-paesana-tradition) - [Family History](https://www.paesana.com/history) - [Paesana Process](https://www.paesana.com/paesana-process) - [Family Recipes](https://www.paesana.com/family-recipes) - [Commercial Services](https://www.paesana.com/commercial-services) - [Blog](https://www.paesana.com/blog) - [Contact](https://www.paesana.com/contact) ###### Our Products - [Pasta Sauce](https://www.paesana.com/products/pasta-sauce) - [PAESANA RESERVE](https://www.paesana.com/products/paesana-reserve) - [Cooking Sauce](https://www.paesana.com/products/cooking-sauce) - [Organic Sauce](https://www.paesana.com/products/organic-sauce) - [Pizza Sauce](https://www.paesana.com/products/pizza-sauce) - [Condiments](https://www.paesana.com/products/condiments) - [Olives](https://www.paesana.com/products/olives) [**Facebook Icon](https://www.facebook.com/Paesana-844659075568834/) [**Instagram Icon](https://www.instagram.com/paesanagourmetspecialties/) Copyright 2025. 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