Italian pasta dishes

Pasta with Olives
Pasta with Olives, Simple, Elegant Pasta Dinners, Photography by Nikki Marie

Pasta with Olives, Simple, Elegant Pasta Dinners, Photography by Nikki Marie

Nikki Marie, blogger behind Chasing the Seasons, transforms everyone’s go-to pantry staple by using heirloom Italian methods to create complex flavours at home.

These 75 easy but elevated dishes will show readers how versatile pasta can be, and how simple it is to layer complex flavours for impressive, satisfying meals. Nikki Marie introduces simple techniques and unexpected twists inspired by her Italian family ties. Each dish is a perfectly composed meal, using a wide range of flavourful produce, tender meats and fresh seafood. Nikki’s creative dried pasta recipes quickly transform a pantry staple into a luxurious dinner—perfect for busy weeknights.

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Strichetti with Prosciutto, Arugula and Tomatoes
Strichetti with Prosciutto, Arugula and Tomatoes, American Sfoglino cookbook, Photography by Eric Wolfinger.

Strichetti with Prosciutto, Arugula and Tomatoes, American Sfoglino cookbook, Photography by Eric Wolfinger.

In this debut cookbook from Evan Funke, he shares classic techniques from his Emilia Romagna training and provides accessible instructions for making his award winning sfoglia (sheet pasta) at home. With little more than flour, eggs, and a rolling pin, you too can be a sfoglino (a pasta maker) and create traditional Italian noodles that are perfectly paired with the right sauces.

Beginning with four foundational doughs, American Sfoglino takes readers step by step through recipes for a variety of generous dishes, from essential sauces and broths, like Passata di Pomodoro (Tomato Sauce) and Brodo di Carne (Meat Broth) to luscious Tagliatelle in Bianco con Prosciutto (Tagliatelle with Bacon and Butter) and Lasagna Verde alla Bolognese (Green Bolognese Lasagna).

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Penne with Trapanese-Style Pepper
Penne with Trapanese-Style Peppers, Gennaro’s Pasta Perfecto! by Gennaro Contaldo. Copyright © 2019. Photographs by David Loftus.

Penne with Trapanese-Style Peppers, Gennaro’s Pasta Perfecto! by Gennaro Contaldo. Copyright © 2019. Photographs by David Loftus.

In Italy, pasta is more than just food—it is a tradition and a way of life with a long history. In most Italian homes, no meal is complete without a plate of pasta, no matter how it is enjoyed—from a quick basic spaghetti with tomato sauce, to elaborate baked dishes or a simple soup!

This is the beauty of pasta, it is simple to prepare, very versatile and you can make it to suit any occasion and budget. And this is probably why it has become a popular food all over the world. Let’s face it, most people love pasta!

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Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, Gregg's Italian Family Cookbook, Gregg and Anna Wallace, Photography by James Murphy

Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, Gregg’s Italian Family Cookbook, Gregg and Anna Wallace, Photography by James Murphy

Gregg Wallace has fallen in love with Italian cuisine. Along with his wife Anna, and a little help from her Italian parents, he has created a simple Italian cookbook so we can all enjoy traditional Italian cuisine at home.

For Italians, food is not just about recipes, it’s a way of life. It’s about making time for each other, forgetting work and worries, and enjoying tasty, satisfying meals. Gregg and Anna share the dishes they have explored, laughed and argued about with their family, from vitello tonnato to orecchiette and crespelle to veal chops, bagna cauda and bowls of vongole. Brought to life through stunning photography in the Tuscan countryside and buzzing food markets, you’ll discover traditional recipes, cooked the authentic Italian way.

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Cookbook Review: Tuscany

Tuscany by Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi

At the heart of every Tuscan, there is a pride for their region and an incredible sense of responsibility and love for their surroundings. From the minute they look out of their windows in the morning to the last nightcap at the bar, Tuscans, like most Italians, are immersed in food.

In Tuscany, Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi take readers on a culinary journey through a Tuscan day. The rhythm of life pace that Tuscans cook is slow and calm. Breakfasts are considered, lunch often eaten at home with family, and weekend dinners a feast.

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Book Review: Pasta by Hand

It never occurred to me that I could make pasta the old-fashioned way—by hand. I mean, who does that? I always thought that task was relegated to old-world Nonna’s. And let’s be honest, Italian cooking is intimidating. For me, it’s fraught with peril. My fear of bungling a centuries-old cuisine is very real.

Along comes Pasta by Hand: A collection of Italy’s regional and hand shaped pasta. The fact that no special equipment or ingredients are needed to form pasta shapes chips away at my list of excuses. The book contains more than 65 recipes for homemade pasta dough and easy instructions on how to shape it into small orbs, cups, twists, shells, noodles, and dumplings.

Ms. Louis has spent what seems like infinite hours of research and travel schooling herself on the humble dumpling, or what Italians call gnocchi. The book begins with a section on ‘The Basics.’ Exactly what I need. The pages outline the specific ingredients, tools, and techniques that will help craft dumplings, as well as a list of 12 tips for making great gnocchi. For example, ‘Tip #4’ instructs us to pay special attention to the mixing and cooking directions for each recipe. The mixing method for each dumpling dough will be different, to achieve the correct texture. Not all dumplings are meant to be tender and light.

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