Spaghetti carbonara pasta or more simply, Carbonara, is one of the most popular first courses in Italian cuisine. Perhaps not everyone knows that the origins of carbonara are quite controversial: according to one of the most credited hypotheses, carbonara was invented by American soldiers on the day of Liberation in 1944. Despite its young age, carbonara is considered a classic of Roman cuisine such as bucatini all’amatriciana or spaghetti cacio e pepe.
I’ll be honest with you – making Focaccia Genovese is not for the faint of heart! This recipe takes a lot of resting and rising time, which makes it quite a long process, but the actual prep and cooking time is pretty quick overall. Not to mention, once you bite into that crispy, soft, and glossy Focaccia you’ll understand why it’s well worth the process! It is thought to have originated from the Etruscans (whose height was around 3rd century B.C.) and has remained a huge part of Italian culture, even being associated with Christmas Eve and the Epiphany. This dish is clearly loved by Italians and i’m sure you’ll love it too!
This is more of a modern day Italian recipe due to the tofu, but it is a much healthier alternative to using red meat. It’s simple, quick, and a great go-to for a quick lunch when you’re in a rush! The tofu serves as a source of protein and pairs wonderfully with the aromatic pesto while the pasta helps to fill you up until your next meal. This recipe is so easy that it almost explains itself, but here is a little step-by-step to help guide you along!
This creamy and sweet Sardinian treat was originally created to be enjoyed after a long day of work. The protein packed cheese helped farmers regain their strength after a day in the fields, and the sweet gooey honey on top was the perfect touch to make it deliciously rich! This classic dish was intended to be eaten as a main dish, but over time it has evolved into more of a savory dessert all across Italy!
Ragu is a classic dish in Italy with all kinds of variations – from different meats to different wines – with respect to certain regions! Ragu alla Bolognese specifically comes from the city Bologna and features a white wine meat based sauce, versus a red wine based sauce like Ragu alla Napoletana (from Naples). You may find some recipes that include a cream or milk in their Ragu, however, we choose to omit this due to taste and health factors. The important thing about Ragu is that it is an open ended recipe, meaning you can add and omit things as you like, so try it out a couple times and see which variation you like best!
Stuffed tomatoes are a hearty and healthy dish that is full of flavor! Filled with meat, veggies, and rice, they are reminiscent of a Shepherds pie but the tomatoes serve as a much healthier base instead of a crust. The light flavors of the sauce soaked up in the rice pairs deliciously with the melted mozzarella and fills you up comfortably. While this dish does take a bit more time, it is well worth it when you take the steaming hot tomatoes out of the oven and dig into their crispy, creamy, saucy goodness!
This pasta dish is incredibly easy to make and packed with delicious flavors! The thin sliced Prosciutto Cotto pairs so nicely in the simple creamy Panna da Cucina sauce and juicy peas. This is actually considered a luxurious dish in parts of Italy, and in Rome it is a highly desired dish of the Pope due to its simplicity and light creamy flavor. Everyone is sure to love this meal!
Panna da Cucina is a key player in many of Italy’s most classic dishes. It is similar to whipping cream, however, this cooking cream has a much lower fat content and can not be found on shelves in the United States! Not only is it an essential ingredient to classic lasagna, but it can also be added to a variety of different pasta dishes to add an extra level of creaminess or even used as a simple sauce of its own.
Penne pasta with salmon and vodka is one of the tastiest ways to revisit a great classic of the 1970s cuisine. In fact, the vodka pennette became popular in kitchens around the world thanks to their exotic flavor and fast preparation times. This dish is an appetizing choice to bring to the table and a very simple and tasty first course, especially for salmon lovers who like to take advantage of this versatile ingredient!
The most important thing about this recipe is to let it cook long enough to get that rich, slow cooked flavor. Everything in the recipe card below is laid out step by step, but there is a little variation in the cook time. The longer you cook the pasta and meatballs, the better the dish tastes, so just be sure you leave that good hour or two for simmering – it will make a world of difference!
