Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Definitely freshly grated parmigiano reggiano on... anything really.

grated amaretti cookies - you grate what you need then pop the leftover in your mouth!

san marzano tomatoes

You ought'a
Like ricotta
Not tortelloni or bologna
Perciatelli or spaghetti
Stufato or Fagiano
Ricotta. Not gelato.
Y'all ought'a
Like ricotta.
I do.

Fresh mozarella!

Mozzarella cheese.

Fromaggia!

olive oil

Parmigiano reggiano.

If I'm cooking something Italian, fresh basil is a MUST!

Parmigiano reggiano, can't beat the real stuff!

Fresh, in-season tomatoes!

Garlic.. its good in just about everything and nothing italian is italian to me without it.

Hot Italian sausage!

prosciutto

It may be nostalgia talking, but Pecorino Romano. I'll take it over Parmigiano any day.

Garlic!

fresh mozzarella

I Love FARRO!!!!

Prosciutto!

Parmigiano Reggiano, Carnaroli, lardo, guanciali, buffalo, Pecorino Sardo, Amarone, Prosciutto di Parma or San Danielle, orzo, tonno, basilico, Tuber magnatum, chi chi's, ricotta (fresh made of course-if only i could get ewe's , milk), San Marzano, carciofi, broccoli romanesco, fava beans, EVOO, bacala, calamari, arosta, shall I go on?

Parmesan, followed closely by almost all other Italian cheeses.

Basil.

Definitely tomatoes. Now if you're talking seasonings... oregano and basil.

blogged ya: http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com/2007/11/friday-edition-of-contests-galore_23.html

Gnocchi in vodka cream sauce ;-)

White Truffles!

Garlic. Hands down. Olive oil comes a close second.

Basil. Without a doubt. Yum.

Italian cheeses, especially pecorino.

If it's an ingredient in a cannoli... I'm all there.

Olive oil. fire, a local not-Italian restaurant, offers fantastic olive hour with their bread service. With a little salt, it's as good as the rest of the meal.

My favorite Italian cooking ingredient is parmigiano reggiano cheese.

Mescarpone. Mmmmm.

locatelli cheese we are romano people

Farinata!

I was going to say garlic, but then I realized that garlic is present in most cuisine, so I will say Parmesan - I just don't feel right without a block in the fridge.

Parmigiano Reggiano

Acciughe of course. They are useful everywhere.

Tutti gli salumi italiani...Capicola, prosciutto, mortadella, pancetta etc. etc.

Parm-reg, of course

garlic, no doubt.

a nice olive oil

It's gotta be proscuitto

Garlic!!!! So much garlic!!!

every kind of formaggio italiano. and basilico. and, even though it's not really an "ingredient", i have to give a shout out to gelato, because it's just that good.

Pasta, tomatoes!

Olive oil all day long!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lardo! YUUUUUMMMMM!

olive oil!

i've recently discovered wild fennel pollen and bought a bit that came from italy. heaven... it's my newest fave.

parmesan

Another vote for olive oil. Might not be my all-time favorite flavor, but a day doesn't go by when I don't use it.

I have two- they're tied and can't be seperated...Garlic, and olive oil!

Basil

There are so many to choose from

Basil
Olive Oil
Pesto
marsala....

mmmmm....pasta...cheese...basil...olive oil. Can't decide. Please don't make me choose! Love my Oxford Companion to Food, hope the Italian one is just as super.

Fresh roma tomatoes

Pasta, for now. But I'm guessing it might be lardo, if I ever get back there and can try it.

i love tomatoes =)

Hmmm, do I ever cook Italian food without sauteing garlic in olive oil?

Basil and every cheese imaginable!

My favorite would have to be the pasta.

olive garden

Fennel seed for sausage or meats - always adds that italian flavor.

garlic is the best!!!

Grana Padano

I would have to say basil.

garlic definately

Extra virgin olive oil! Love it!!!

GARLIC! and LOOOOOTS of it!

Garlic....roasted of course (lol).

I make areally good Italian Wedding Soup

Garlic!

garlic

On my last trip to Italy I picked up a secret spice combination. All they would tell me is that it's a 5 spice combination. It's my favorite spice. Everytime I hear someone's going I have them get me more.

Olive Oil!!

Fresh, fragrant basil....yum!

garlic & olive oil

basil, fresh or dried.

I love basil. I've got it growing in the yard so it's always handy.

garlic ror me

pasta, garlic, olive oil, home grown basil, parmesan cheese

oregano

tomatoes

fresh sardines like they make in sicilia

i am addicted to OLIVES!

i love 'em, will drive an hour for goods ones, and eat them right out of the jar (that really grosses my parents out).

Garlic definately garlic

can't do anything without quality olive oil

I love to cook with Italian cheeses...Pecorino Romano, fresh mozarella, etc.

jasonncaryn [at] yahoo [dot] com

Olive oil definitley !!

Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Italy.

Linguini pasta is a favorite ingredient.

It's easy to curl around a fork, absorbs and enhances many good sauces, and finally satifies deliciously the hunger for Italian cuisine!

Tomatoes

Garlic

So hard to choose....Prosciutto

There's olive oil and there's Italian olive oil. *Real* Italian olive oil, like the kind an Italian family makes from their own olive groves. That to me is what's essential in a delectible Italian dish.

Parmason cheese is my favorite. thanks.

Basil and Olive Oil

peccorino cheese, definitely...

With equal flavor importance, it's good olive oil and garlic!!

Wine...a meal is simply not italian without it!

Olive oil, garlic and oregano!

FRESH basil.

Definitely, positively, absolutely gotta be garlic.

Being the novice that I am, I would say olive oil. It seems like it's in everything, which is good.

gotta be evoo and garlic - thank you!

fresh basil from my garden

mascarpone.. MMmm

I love cheese but I have to say my favorite is Italian sausage! yum!!!

Too many to pick just one - olive oil, garlic, basil,
but, if I have to, I would say olive oil

Garlic........but olive oil is a very close second.......

The olive oil makes the difference every time.

Olive Oil's an obvious choice, but I can't live without balsamic vinegar - I use it in everything from strawberry sorbet to squash dishes. It brightens up the world!

pasta

grated parmesan

Olives..diced, sliced, chopped, halved, whole, pitted, or just oil....its the way to go.

ohhhh
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE....

Sorry...
I posted before adding my foods:
San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil and fresh mozzarella are all my favorites.

My favorite would have to be garlic! Thanks for entering me! :)

mushrooms