Primi – Pasta, Rice, Soups

Every time I make crepes, either sweet or savory, I wonder why I don’t prepare them more often. They are so fun to cook and always delightful. The smell alone of these delicate savory Italian crepes makes the recipe worth doing. Picture luscious crepes filled with Radicchio di Treviso, Taleggio & Speck, topped with creamy béchamel and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Oh my. Thankfully, they don’t just smell insanely delicious, they are utterly delectable. Seriously.

It’s August and we are at the peak of eggplant season. Eggplant is my absolute favorite. I like it prepared in every way possible – in parmigiana, fried, grilled, roasted, pureed, stuffed, in pasta sauce, you name it. If you love eggplant as much as I do, you will want to try this heavenly, rich, yet delicate eggplant lasagna. This Lasagne alle Melanzane is filled with a delightful tomato basil sauce, fried eggplant, fresh mozzarella, scamorza cheese, prosciutto cotto (unsmoked ham), hard-boiled egg, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. It sounds like a lot but is prepared in the Italian-style, meaning, with a…

Seppie al Nero alla Veneziana is a glorious, dramatic, and scrumptious dish of cuttlefish (a cousin of squid) stewed in its own ink. It is one of my favorite Venetian dishes. The black ink with its taste of the sea, combined with a few aromatics, creates a magical sauce that is both simple and luscious at the same time. Traditionally, it is served on a bed of polenta as a main course or on spaghetti as a primo. Either way, it is heavenly and special. Happily, I was taught how to prepare it recently by a Venetian grandmother. I can…

Ragù Bolognese or Bolognese Sauce is justifiably famous all over the world. Widespread though it is, it is greatly misunderstood and ill-prepared outside of Bologna. Next week marks our 6th anniversary here, making it the perfect time for me to discuss this iconic, delicious, rich, and scrumptious meat sauce! Read on to learn about Ragù Bolognese as it’s prepared and served in Bologna. I will share insights and experiences, and provide recipe resources so that you can make this heavenly dish at home, Bolognese style!

Leek gnudi or Gnudi di Porri are a twist on a popular Tuscan dish of humble origins. Gnudi are traditionally little dumplings of sheep’s milk ricotta cheese and spinach, chard, or other greens such as cavolo nero (dinosaur kale), mixed with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, fresh nutmeg, egg and often flour. In this version, I use leeks, an ingredient often used in Tuscan cuisine, instead of greens. Sauced with a butter and sage sauce, it’s a simple, delicious and lovely dish that’s quick to prepare.

Food is powerful. One whiff of a favorite dish can envelop you instantly in a warm hug and bring comfort. It can transport you to another time, to your childhood, to your grandmother’s house, to a holiday. We need things like that in our lives, don’t we? This baked pasta dish from the south of Italy is one of those dishes that provoke such powerful feelings. Pasta al Forno con le Polpettine, or Oven Baked Pasta with Little Meatballs is a dish that many families serve for their Sunday dinner. It’s satisfying, hearty comfort food at its best. There are…

Greetings pasta lovers! Tagliatelle al Prosciutto, a simple, scrumptious dish from Emilia-Romagna, is a preparation that is high in flavor yet low in effort. We love dishes like that, don’t we? Every cook needs dishes like this in their culinary arsenal. Tagliatelle al Prosciutto consists of fresh egg tagliatelle, Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and butter. That’s it! Some people, like me, also add shallot or onion. This is the perfect meal for those who want to prepare something delicious but are pressed for time.

It’s early fall, that wonderful time of year when summer produce is still scrumptious and autumn goodies are just coming into season. Therefore, it’s a perfect time to try this hearty Italian Zucchini Soup with Cannellini Beans, Potato, & Ditalini, all infused with fresh tomato & basil. You get the best of both worlds, fresh, flavorful zucchini and tomatoes, and the warming comfort of a nice bowl of soup as the weather cools down.

Summer is upon us and that means that tomato season is starting! Finally, we are starting to see real, juicy, sweet, succulent tomatoes… Yippee! If you love pasta with tomato and want a recipe that highlights fresh, ripe summer tomatoes, then read on about Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato, Potato & Basil. This lovely dish with barely cooked tomatoes, perfumed with fresh basil, and deliciously creamy from the potato is a winner. It’s light, economical, and absolutely delicious. It’s also a little bit out of the norm.

Pasta e Patate con la Provola is a Neapolitan classic, straight out of la cucina povera, or poor man’s cooking. I do not feel poor however when I eat it, I feel damned lucky! It is a hearty, scrumptious, and comforting dish normally served in winter. Nonetheless, it is freezing in Bologna right now which gave me the perfect excuse to make it today! Yippee for silver linings. I didn’t make it this winter so am mighty satisfied to have squeezed it in before it truly gets too hot to make it. If it’s cold wherever you are, this recipe might…