Ligurian cuisine is a special kind of cooking that has been shaped by history, especially the trade routes across the Mediterranean Sea.

What Influences Ligurian Cuisine?

1. Ingredients:

   • Spices from the East, like saffron and turmeric, were brought in.
   • Imported goods, such as olives and citrus fruits, added more flavor to the dishes.

2. Cooking Techniques:

   • The ways of preserving fish, influenced by trade, include methods like salting and drying. These techniques go back to the time of the Romans!

3. Local Touches:

   • Because of its location, Liguria created dishes like Pesto alla Genovese, which uses lots of local basil. In fact, the region grows over 100 tons of basil each year! This dish also has some flavors from French and Spanish cooking.

These elements, along with the massive amount of trade worth about $35 billion in food products, show how trade routes have made Ligurian cooking unique.