Recipes

Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe (Orecchiette alle Cime di Rapa) is an iconic and treasured dish from the region of Puglia. I adore it. For one thing, it includes one of my favorite pasta shapes of all time – fresh orecchiette. I love making them and I certainly love eating them! They are little whimsical cups of joy filled with tasty sauce. Then there is broccoli rabe – another ingredient I can’t get enough of. Not only is it an utterly scrumptious vegetable but it’s incredibly good for you (win-win). Then, you season those already glorious ingredients with extra virgin olive…

Sometimes I marvel at the sheer number of delicious things that there are to eat and discover in Italian cuisine. Frittatine di Pasta Napoletane are extraordinarily scrumptious Neapolitan pasta fritters that are an important part of the incredible street food scene in Naples. These fried parcels of heaven are crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside. In a word: dreamy. While there are many varieties of Frittatine di Pasta Napoletane, I’ve developed a recipe for a very popular (and mouthwatering) version. This variant includes a mixture of bucatini pasta, peas, ham, cheese, and béchamel. After this mixture cools,…

If you’ve read my post about authentic Ragù Bolognese and tried the recipe, you’re ready to prepare an iconic Bolognese preparation – Lasagne Verdi alla Bolognese. It’s one of my favorite dishes of all time. Making this lasagna requires only a few components – spinach pasta, Ragù Bolognese, béchamel sauce, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. When prepared with care, these elements come together to create something truly extraordinary. Besides Tagliatelle al Ragù and Tortellini in Brodo, it’s one of the most important “primi” (pasta courses) in Bolognese cuisine. This traditional Lasagna Bolognese is everything a good Italian-style lasagna should be – it’s…

As of next week, I will have lived in Bologna for nine years. Nine! It blows my mind. I can think of no better way to celebrate this milestone than to share my recipe for an authentic Ragù Bolognese with you. Besides Tortellini in Brodo (which I have also written about), there is no other dish that exemplifies Bolognese cuisine more. With this essential recipe, you will be able to prepare two iconic Bolognese preparations – Tagliatelle al Ragù alla Bolognese and Lasagne Verdi alla Bolognese. The recipe below yields a double batch so that you will have enough sauce…

I have a little known culinary treasure to share with you today. Pizza Scima (pronounced sheema) is a shockingly good unleavened flatbread from Abruzzo. Why shocking? Because most of us have never heard of it before. In my opinion, such yumminess should not remain hidden! Don’t worry, I am here to remedy the situation. Below I provide some background and a recipe. Pizza Scima is something that you’ll want to munch on all day. It’s flavorful, super crunchy on the outside, and rather moist inside. Since there is no yeast, the recipe comes together in no time. Without a need…

All Americans know and love the Italian-American classic spaghetti and meatballs. Less known, however, is this exquisite traditional recipe of homemade spaghetti alla chitarra pasta served in a luscious, slow-cooked tomato and meat sauce with teeny meatballs. Spaghetti alla chitarra with tiny meatballs is a glorious preparation from Teramo, a charming town in the Abruzzo region. This masterpiece takes the idea of spaghetti and meatballs to a whole other level. Maccheroni alla Chitarra con le Pallottine is both delicious and fun to eat due to the adorable little meatballs. (I think they bring out the inner child in anyone that…

Oh boy, do I have deliciousness to share with you today! Rosette al Forno are baked pasta roses filled with ham, cheese, and béchamel, then topped with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Originally from Modena, Rosette al Forno are pretty, scrumptious, and have plenty of crusty bits on top for everyone. My version of the dish varies slightly from tradition in that I add mortadella, because yum… I also include a lot of béchamel to make the dish extra luscious, moist, and creamy when it comes out of the oven. Rosette al Forno are impressive to look at but aren’t as difficult…

Spring has arrived but there is still a chill in the air. Before it gets too warm, I want to share a delightful and delicious soup recipe with you from the beautiful region of Abruzzo (and also Molise). Sagne e Ceci is a fresh pasta and chickpea soup seasoned with garlic, rosemary, and bay leaf. Despite its rustic and humble nature, it is a very satisfying and inviting dish. It’s one of those Italian preparations that surprises you by tasting like so much more than it is. In my post, I’ll take you through all of the steps to prepare…

Pasta is one of my favorite things on the planet. I can’t get enough of it. Pasta is happy food. Fresh or dried, I don’t care, I love it all. Today, I’m sharing a recipe for an iconic stuffed pasta dish – Ricotta and Spinach Ravioli with Butter and Sage. Happy food indeed! This beloved dish is an Italian classic for a reason. It’s delicious, satisfying, simple, comforting, fun and, for many Italians, full of memories. In other words, it’s everything that Italian food is about. These beautiful ravioli filled with fresh ricotta cheese, spinach, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, and freshly…

Tiramisù – one of Italy’s most beloved desserts. I can hardly think of a more ubiquitous dessert here in Italy or outside of it. Who doesn’t love it? Today, I am sharing a super quick and delicious recipe for it using cantucci (almond biscotti) in place of the traditional savoiardi cookies. It is a delightful twist with extra crunch and flavor coming from the almonds and a hint of chocolate due to the addition of chocolate chips. Yum. This is the kind of dessert that you can whip up in the morning and serve in the evening. We all need…