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Italian Cooking Terms Trivia Quiz

The Italians have contributed so many (usually delicious) things to the world of cooking. Here are ten cooking terms that come from the Italian language. Have fun and mangia bene.

A multiple-choice quiz by Joepetz. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Joepetz

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
369,834

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
645

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Pasta al forno is a popular and tasty Italian dish. If something is cooked "al forno," how was it prepared? Hint

With wine

With cheese

In the oven

Cooked outside

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Question 2 of 10

2. You have heard someone refer to pasta as al dente. Which of the following best describes what al dente means? Hint

Firm

Spicy

Mushy

Sweet

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Question 3 of 10

3. Like many Americans, I like my potatoes, zucchini, chicken and mozzarella sticks "fritto," which is the Italian word for what cooking process? Hint

Seasoned

Baked

Fried

Raw

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Question 4 of 10

4. Many different proteins, such as chicken or shrimp, can be prepared "fra diavolo" or "indiavolo." These spicy dishes get their name from the Italian word for what being? Hint

The devil

Gnomes

Angels

Hell hounds

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is focaccia? Hint

A dessert

A meat

A bread

A soup

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Question 6 of 10

6. At what point during a feast or large meal would the antipasto be served? Hint

It's the very first thing served.

Immediately before the main course.

After the pasta but before the soup.

Right before dessert.

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of the following words is considered onomatopoeia for the sound the knife makes against the cutting board while chopping food? Hint

Bagna

Battuto

Bango

Pulso

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Question 8 of 10

8. Is frutti di mare fruit, seafood, bread or dessert? Hint

Fruit

Seafood

Bread

Dessert

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Question 9 of 10

9. As its name would imply, how is ricotta cheese made? Hint

By mixing goat's and cow's milk.

By cooking the whey from other cheeses.

By freezing the whey from other cheeses.

By baking mozzarella cheese.

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Question 10 of 10

10. If you order veal scaloppini at a restaurant, how is it prepared? Hint

It is stuffed.

It is served cooked, but cold.

It is served in a broth.

It is sliced thin and pounded.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Pasta al forno is a popular and tasty Italian dish. If something is cooked "al forno," how was it prepared?

Answer: In the oven

"Al forno" literally means "to the oven." Pizza and breads are also prepared al forno.

2. You have heard someone refer to pasta as al dente. Which of the following best describes what al dente means?

Answer: Firm

To cook pasta al dente, essentially means to cook it for long enough that the pasta is no longer hard but before it becomes too soft. Some people describe it as having a "bite" to it. Italians usually prefer their pasta al dente and refer to soft pasta as "stracotta" which means overcooked.

3. Like many Americans, I like my potatoes, zucchini, chicken and mozzarella sticks "fritto," which is the Italian word for what cooking process?

Answer: Fried

"Fritto" means fried but is often taken to mean deep fried. Unlike many Americans, I often degrease my fried food before I eat it.

4. Many different proteins, such as chicken or shrimp, can be prepared "fra diavolo" or "indiavolo." These spicy dishes get their name from the Italian word for what being?

Answer: The devil

"Fra diavolo" literally translates to "to the devil." The relation is that the devil rules over hell, which is hot like the spicy food.

5. What is focaccia?

Answer: A bread

Focaccia is a kind of pizza dough that is usually light and airy. Sometimes, focaccia bread is cut in half and made into a tasty sandwich.

6. At what point during a feast or large meal would the antipasto be served?

Answer: It's the very first thing served.

Anitpasto means before the meal, so it is served first. Most antipasti consist of numerous different types of meats, cheeses and olives. If you belong to my family, you fill up on this first and have no room left for anything else (but still eat it anyway.)

7. Which of the following words is considered onomatopoeia for the sound the knife makes against the cutting board while chopping food?

Answer: Battuto

Battuto can be translated as beaten or crushed. Specifically, battuto refers to the sound made when chopping carrots or other loud vegetables, but is now used to describe the noise any time no matter what is being cut.

8. Is frutti di mare fruit, seafood, bread or dessert?

Answer: Seafood

Since frutti di mare means fruit of the sea, it is considered seafood. Sometimes in Italian restaurants, the menus will call seafood "Frutti di Mare;" other times it is simply called "Pesce" or "Seafood."

9. As its name would imply, how is ricotta cheese made?

Answer: By cooking the whey from other cheeses.

Ricotta means recooked, so ricotta is made by taking the whey from one cheese and cooking it again. Ricotta is a creamy cheese often found in stuffed Italian dishes like calzones.

10. If you order veal scaloppini at a restaurant, how is it prepared?

Answer: It is sliced thin and pounded.

By cutting the meat thin and pounding it, the chef is guaranteeing it will be very tender. Veal scaloppini is often served with a sauce to enhance the flavor.

Source: Author Joepetz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor WesleyCrusher before going online.
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