It’s no secret that Italians and Italian Americans love their traditions, clinging steadfastly to timeless familial activities and events as they roll around each year. From the handmade pasta your nonna’s crafted for decades to the delicious dish your family relishes each summer, here are some favorite food-centered traditions that take place during the warmest days of the year:
Gardening
It’s every nonno’s favorite summer pastime, and as June approaches, many Italians are busy readying their gardens for a stunning debut. The typical Italian American bloom isn't complete without tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, an assortment of hot peppers (the requisite spicy Calabrian chili variety included!), and herbs such as Italian flat-leaf parsley, basil, and oregano. The colorful array of delicious ripe veggies that come from an Italian’s garden are among their most prized possessions. And if you’re fortunate enough to have seeds from Italy, perhaps saved from generations past, there’s no greater sentimental addition. My nonno brought an oregano plant from Italy to America around 40 years ago, and it’s now in my dad’s garden and thriving!
Canning or Jarring Tomatoes
At the end of every summer harvest, no Italian can bear the thought of going without garden tomatoes until the next season. So, for generations, the solution to this has been to jar or can your fresh tomatoes. The most common way to do so is with mason jars (frequently found in your Italian father’s basement), with people some choosing to boil and jar "sauce ready," and others preferring a “freshly sliced” option…though the incorporation of basil is popular regardless. The jars will keep for months and ensure that even the most ardent sauce lover can have their fill of fresh garden tomatoes from season to season.
Homemade Sauce
It’s true that homemade sauce isn’t really limited to summertime. But it makes this list for a simple yet all-important reason: the summer variety is made with garden tomatoes, which undoubtedly level up the taste. (Do we sense a theme here?) Italians take their sauce very seriously indeed, and there’s no greater crowd-pleaser than this ‘summer sauce’ combined with your choice of al dente pasta. For a delicious twist, keep the tomatoes a little chunkier rather than completely pureeing them, and choose a smaller pasta shape, such as fusilli, which will allow for the small tomato pieces to fit within the ridges of the pasta. A match made in heaven!
Garden Tomato Salad
Nothing beats a refreshing, flavorful bite of tomato salad in the summer. It’s a staple on every Italian’s dinner table when the sunny days are upon us. The ingredients are simple and it’s easy to make, but the bursting sweetness of the tomatoes mixed with the pungent tang of onions and the pepperiness of basil, make for a delicious addition to your summer meals. All you need are some garden tomatoes, sprigs of fresh basil, red onion, oregano, oil, vinegar (if desired), salt, and pepper. Grill or toast some ciabatta bread and dunk it in the leftover juice from the salad and you’ll have the perfect complement to a meal!
Homemade Fresh Sausage
Making homemade Italian sausage and soppressata is usually reserved for the cooler days of the year when they’re typically hung to dry and cure for a couple of months. However, you can still enjoy fresh homemade Italian sausage during the summer season. I know, so exciting! For years, families like mine have made a day out of this tradition, coming together to catch up and partake in a sausage-making extravaganza. Then, around dinner time, we fire up the grill and roast sweet and spicy peppers along with the sausages, preparing enough food to feed the entire neighborhood. Buon appetito!
What are some of your favorite Italian family traditions?
Sarah Talarico
Sarah Talarico is a writer at heart, with a deep passion for all things Italian. Much of her writing inspiration comes from her Italian American roots that trace back to her father’s beloved hometown in Calabria. Southern Italy holds a special place in her heart, right next to homemade sauce and cappuccini. Sarah has a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing and English and a desire to use her writing skills to share the timeless charm of Italy and that ‘dolce far niente’ feeling. In her downtime, she finds joy in filling the plates and seats at her dining room table.