The world of Italian cuisine is already vast and diversified, but it continues to grow every day! You may be wondering how it continues growing every day. Just like in a lot of other famous cuisines, Italian food is home to not just original recipes, but variations of classic dishes from all over the world. Chicken parmesan is one of the most famous Italian dishes across the world, and it’s easy to see why! But, what if we were to tell you that this famous dish isn’t actually from Italy? We give you some more context below!

Chicken Parmesan’s Italian Name

You might be a little confused as to why chicken parmesan isn’t actually from Italy. After all, it has an official name in Italian: chicken parmigiano! However, this is merely an adaptation. The word “parmigiana” in Italian roughly translates to “in the style of Parma” in English. The untrained eye would see this and immediately think that it refers to Parmesan cheese. However, this isn’t the case! It actually refers to the Italian region of Parma. While this might add another layer to the mystery, it will immediately be uncovered!

Chicken Parmesan’s True Origins

Believe it or not, the chicken parmesan dish was first created in the United States! It was first created by Italian immigrants in the country in the 1950s. They wanted to bring another classic Italian dish to the West with their own special twist. The dish was none other than eggplant parmesan! Eggplant parmesan actually originated before chicken parmesan was created, which means that chicken parmesan is an American version of an Italian recipe!

Can You Find Chicken Parmesan In Italy?

There are some context clues that could point you toward the thinking that chicken parmesan is a dish that is readily available in Italy. However, this actually isn’t the case! You’ll be more likely to find eggplant parmesan and other variations of the dish in Italy, but the same dish with chicken is more of a rarity. This is largely due to the scarcity of chicken within Italy at the time of its creation, which led to eggplant replacing it as the protein of choice.

Chicken Parmesan Catering at Bricco Salumeria

If you’re looking to wow your guests at your next social event, you can’t go wrong with Italian food! You’ll find catering dishes of it in spades at Bricco Salumeria! We specialize in a variety of Italian sandwiches and subs in addition to massive catering dishes that are as large as they are tasty. Regardless of your reason for craving Italian food, make a reservation with us today to satisfy them!