Carbonara – Creamy sauce with eggs, pecorino, guanciale, and black pepper
Norcina – Creamy sauce with sausage and black truffles
Amatriciana – Tomato-based sauce with guanciale and pecorino
Cacio e Pepe – Simple dish with pecorino cheese and black pepper
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina – Potato dumplings with tomato sauce and mozzarella
Gnocchi alla Romana – Semolina dumplings, baked with cheese and butter
Quattro Formaggi – Sauce with four types of cheese (frequently blue cheese)
Norma – Tomato sauce with fried eggplant and ricotta
Ragù / Bolognese – Tomato and meat sauce. Bolognese is the most typical type of ragù.
Puttanesca – Tomato sauce with olives, capers, anchovies, and garlic
Arrabbiata – Spicy tomato sauce with garlic and red chili peppers
Aglio e Olio – Garlic, olive oil, and chili flakes
Pomodoro – Simple tomato sauce, often with basil
Vongole – Clams, garlic, olive oil, sometimes cherry tomatoes
Pasta e Fagioli – Pasta with beans in a hearty broth
Alla Vodka – Creamy tomato sauce with vodka
Pasta al Forno – Baked pasta dish, often with meat and cheese
Alfredo – Creamy sauce with butter and Parmesan (not Italian). Don’t ask for this abomination, even though it’s better than what you would get in the US.