Mama's Spicy Meatballs
This traditional Italian-American favorite features an easy 20-minute fresh tomato sauce, spicy pepperoncini-studded meatballs, and a handful of basil for a dish that tastes like it came straight from your mama's kitchen .
Makes: 6 servings
Prep: 20 mins
Bake: 20 mins 350°
Cook: 20 mins (sauce)
Slow Cooker Ribollita
Tuscany is famous for its delicious recipes featuring beans, and this tasty soup is packed with them, along with a medley of vegetables, fresh herbs, and kale. Add your leftover Parmesan cheese rind to the soup while cooking for extra flavor.
Makes: 8 servings
Yield: about 12 cups
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Stand: 1 hr
Pork Chops with Chestnuts, Onions, and Dried Plums
Another hearty Tuscan dish, this bacon-and-pork-chop skillet recipe is loaded with chestnuts and olives -- both of which are grown in the region. To roast fresh chestnuts, cut an X into the flat side of each nut and roast at 425?F for 15 minutes.
Makes: 6 servings
Yield: 6 pork chops plus 2 cups sauce
Prep: 35 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Tortellini Emilia
This three-cheese pasta bake was inspired by the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna, a region of Italy known for its cream, cheese, and cured meats.
Makes: 8 servings
Prep: 30 mins
Bake: 20 mins 400°F
Baked Fennel with Parmesan
Hailing from the Emilia-Romagna region, this cheesy vegetable bake gets its mild anise flavor from fennel, while walnuts and parsley add a crunchy, savory topping.
Makes: 8 servings
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Bake: 15 mins 425°F
Lasagna Rolls al Forno
No culinary tour of the Emilia-Romagna region is complete without tasting its Bolognese sauce, which originated in the region's principal city, Bologna. Our delicious lasagna recipe features a traditional Bolognese, a creamy bechamel, and lots of Parmesan cheese.
Makes: 12 servings
Yield: 12 lasagna rolls
Prep: 40 mins
Bake: 40 mins 375°F
Beef Tenderloin with Parmesan-Herb Stuffing
Filled with mushrooms, shallots, prosciutto, and Parmesan cheese, this elegant stuffed tenderloin from the Emilia-Romagna region has a delicious depth of flavor that pairs well with a simple wine sauce. Keep this recipe on hand for a holiday dinner or other special occasion.
Makes: 10 servings
Yield: about 2 cups sauce
Prep: 40 mins
Roast: 30 mins
Stand: 15 mins
Garlicky Steamed Mussels and Littleneck Clams with Pesto Toasts
The coastal region of Liguria is known for its seafood and pesto. So we paired this simple, savory recipe for mussels with fresh pesto on thick, crusty slices of bread for a truly delicious dinner.
Makes: 12 servings
Prep: 20 mins
Soak: 45 mins
Cook: 11 mins
Baked Stuffed Zucchini
A Ligurian specialty, stuffed zucchini gets filled with a savory mushroom-and-bread mixture and works as a meatless main or a hearty side. Use a melon baller to scoop out the zucchini flesh, and saute it as part of the filling.
Makes: 8 servings
Prep: 45 mins
Stand: 15 mins
Bake: 40 mins 350°F
Mini Margherita Pizzas
Southern Italy's region of Campania is home to Naples, considered the birthplace of pizza. Our easy pizza recipe keeps it classic with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil.
Yield: 18 to 20 mini pizzas
Prep: 25 mins
Bake: 8 mins 450°F
Insalata di Mare
This authentic seafood pasta dish from Campania features shrimp, clams, and calamari (squid) with bright, fresh flavor from lemon and herbs.
Makes: 6 servings
Yield: About 7 cups
Prep: 30 mins
Chill: 2 hrs to 24 hrs
Spaghetti with Cauliflower, Capers, and Lemon
Sicily is said to be the home of the first Italian pasta, and Sicilians love to toss their pasta with fresh vegetables. This simple spaghetti recipe features hearty cauliflower and a crunchy bread crumb topping.
Makes: 6 servings
Start to Finish: 35 mins
Grilled Swordfish with Citrus, Saffron, and Mint
Tasty grilled swordfish gets a unique sauce of citrus segments, saffron, and mint in this Sicilian-inspired dish.
Makes: 4 servings
Prep: 30 mins
Grill: 8 mins
Sicilian Potato and Green Bean Salad
Sicily's penchant for bold and salty flavors is showcased in this caper- and olive-filled potato salad with a vinaigrette base.
Makes: 8 servings
Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Cool: 1 hr
Farro with Roasted Butternut Squash and Calabrian Chiles
In Venice, cicchetti , a small plate to accompany wine, takes many forms. This farro grain salad recipe gets a touch of heat from hot peppers and nuttiness from butternut squash; it pairs well with a fruity, young red wine such as Dolcetto.
Makes: 8 servings
Yield: 4 cups
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Roast: 20 mins 475°F
Grilled Endive
Sharp Gorgonzola cheese and crunchy walnuts pair with aged balsamic vinegar atop grilled endive for a Venetian small plate that's as beautiful as it is delicious. Can't find aged balsamic? Use regular balsamic vinegar and follow our tips to make a reduction.
Makes: 2 servings
Prep: 15 mins
Grill: 19 mins
Pasta Carbonara
We've lightened up an Italian-American favorite, pasta carbonara, by swapping in whole grain pasta, a pound of Broccolini, and crispy turkey bacon. It's delicious, easy, and low in calories.
Makes: 4 servings
Start to Finish: 30 mins
Chicken Cacciatore
Mushroom-, olive-, and pepper-packed chicken cacciatore gets a skinny makeover with one simple trick -- opt for skinned chicken thighs. This hearty one-pot dinner comes in at less than 400 calories per serving.
Makes: 4 servings
Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Roasted Pumpkin, Arugula, and Dried Cherry Salad
Hearty roasted pumpkin brings a mild nutty flavor to strong, peppery arugula. Dried cherries and pumpkin seeds garnish this Italian countryside salad.
Makes: 8 servings
Yield: 1/2 cup dressing
Prep: 20 mins
Roast: 35 mins 450°F
Individual Stacked Cannolis with Chocolate Sauce
These sandwichlike cannolis might resemble s'mores, but they taste like the traditional Italian pastries. Golden brown phyllo pieces hold a mixture of sweet ricotta and chocolate chips. Drizzled homemade chocolate sauce adds another layer of decadence.
Makes: 6 servings
Prep: 40 mins
Bake: 10 mins 350°F
Coffee-Raspberry Zabaglione Semifreddo
Layers of fresh raspberry, creamy coffee, and sweet zabaglione come together in a tempting combo. Slice and serve for a stunning frozen dessert.
Makes: 16 servings
Prep: 1 hr + preparing Classic Zabaglione
Freeze: 36 hrs
Stand: 10 mins
Classic Zabaglione
Pronounced zah-bahl-YOU-nay, this wine-enhanced Italian custard foams when beaten over heat. With a short ingredients list and prep time, this easy custard is delicious paired with fruit or biscotti, or spooned onto a cake.
Makes: 8 servings
Yield: 2 cups
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 13 mins
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