pollo alla parmigiana
Chicken parmigiana in Italian is pollo alla parmigiana.
The phrase refers to a dish of breaded chicken breast topped with tomato sauce and melted cheese.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, pollo alla parmigiana means 'chicken in the style of Parma', where alla parmigiana denotes the culinary style associated with the city of Parma.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly assume 'parmigiana' refers specifically to Parmesan cheese. However, in the context of this dish, it refers to the preparation style originating from the Parma region.
Did you know?
- If you order pollo alla parmigiana in Italy, you might find it's not on the menu. The traditional original version of the dish is melanzane alla parmigiana, which uses eggplant instead of chicken.
- The word pollo shares a prehistoric root with the English word 'poultry', tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European word meaning 'animal young'.
- Although the name links the dish to the city of Parma in the north, the eggplant version of parmigiana is a cultural icon of southern regions like Sicily and Campania.
Examples in context
- Vorrei ordinare un piatto di Pollo alla Parmigiana, per favore.I would like to order a plate of Chicken Parmigiana, please.
- Hai mai assaggiato la Parmigiana di Pollo? È spettacolare!Have you ever tasted Chicken Parmigiana? It's spectacular!
- Il pollo alla parmigiana di questo ristorante è ottimo.The chicken parmigiana at this restaurant is excellent.
- Hai ordinato il pollo alla parmigiana?Did you order the chicken parmigiana?
Example conversation
Alessandro and Martina are deciding what to eat at a trattoria.
- AlessandroCosa prendi di buono, Martina?What good thing are you having, Martina?
- MartinaPrendo il pollo alla parmigiana.I am having the chicken parmigiana.
- AlessandroOttima scelta, è molto saporito.Great choice, it is very tasty.
- MartinaGrazie, non vedo l'ora di mangiarlo!Thanks, I can't wait to eat it!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pollo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
