Everyone loves spaghetti and tomato sauce as an easy weeknight dinner, but there is so much more to Italian food food than that. And it’s not all Sunday sauces that take hours to develop the flavor or roasts that take all afternoon to cook. There are many ways to pack that delicious Italian flavor into easy recipes, and The Easy Italian Cookbook will show you how, from pre-dinner drinks all the way to desserts.
Author Paulette Licitra is a trained chef who grew up in an Italian-American family. She learned to cook Italian food in some of the best kitchens in the states and in Italy, and now she teaches Italian cooking in Nashville. This is a woman who knows her stuff, and she’s willing to open up her collection of recipes and share them with us.
After an introduction to the ideal Italian pantry (yes, she does explain the difference in extra virgin olive oils and which ones to cook with), she jumps in with the appetizers and cocktails. So make yourself a Campari and Some, a Negroni, or a Peach Bellini, and get ready for some tasty appetizers. From a n Antipasto Platter to Clams Oreganata to White Bean and Sage Crostini, you can start your meal off right or make starters for to take to a dinner party.
There are soups, such as Tuscan Ribollita (Hearty Vegetable and Bread Soup), Italian Wedding Soup with Mini Meatballs, and Pappa al Pomodoro (Tomato and Bread Soup). Or if you prefer an Italian salad, there’s an Italian Mixed Green Salad with Parmigiano Vinaigrette, Sicilian Orange and Fennel Salad, or a Chopped Caprese Salad with Balsamic Vinegar.
From there, the chapters dive deep into the comfort foods of polenta, risotto, frittatas, pastas, and sauces. How could you not be tempted by these recipes for Soft and Cheesy Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms, Spaghetti Cupcake Frittatas, Lemony Risotto with Asparagus, Fusilli with Red Wine and Polenta, True Fettuccine Alfredo, or Baked Stuffed Pasta Shells?
There are recipes for Fresh Egg Pasta Dough, a 15-Minute Tomato Sauce, a 30-Minute Meat Sauce, and Dad’s Homemade Pizza Dough. Because of course there are also recipes for pizza. Cast Iron Pan Pizza Margherita, Puff Pastry Pizza, Riviera Focaccia with Rosemary and Olives, Parmigiano Crackers, Sesame-Cheese Bread Sticks—there are baked treats for everyone.
But not everyone loves pasta and pizza like I do, and The Easy Italian Cookbook has you covered for meats, seafood, and vegetables too. There’s Eggplant Parmigiana, Garlicky Lentils with Fried Croutons, and Chickpeas with Sage and Crunchy Fennel. Chicken Piccata with Lemon and Capers, Chicken Saltimbocca with Sage and Prosciutto, Rustic Sausage Meatballs, and Spice-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin. Roasted Cod with Crispy Parmigiano Crumbs, Tilapia Poached in Tomato-Tarragon Sauce, Shrimp Scampi, and Lightly Fried Calamari.
And finally, a chapter on desserts. There is Chocolate Tiramisu, Puff Pastry Cannoli with Sweet Ricotta Cream, Sicilian Almond-Orange Cookies, and Amaretto Chocolate Brownies with Walnuts.
These are just a handful of the 100 recipes included here, and throughout the cookbook, there are times for prep time and cook time as well as tags for those who look for diet-specific recipes: dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan. And many recipes are one-pan or 30 minutes or less for those days you need a flavorful meal in a hurry.
The Easy Italian Cookbook is just that. It’s filled with amazing Italian recipes that can be made quickly and easily but are delicious and perfect for family dinners. This cookbook is portable and practical and perfect for anyone wanting an introduction to Italian cooking, to cooks without a lot of time, or to anyone who just loves Italian food! But beware the pictures—they make you hungry!
A copy of The Easy Italian Cookbook was provided by Rockridge Press through the Callisto Media Publisher’s Club, with many thanks.
