5 Italian Recipes You Need to Learn to Cook
Italian food is delicious, and millions of people around the world eat it on a daily basis. The cuisine goes beyond simple pizzas, however. Trying out a few other Italian dishes will open you up to a whole new culinary world.
You don’t need to go to fancy restaurants for this. With my top 5 Italian recipes everyone should learn, you’ll have no problem making these at home. They are easier to make than you think, they offer a wealth of flavor and can be made healthier too!
Here are my top 5 Italian recipes everyone needs to learn to cook!
1. Panzanella
Panzanella is a Tuscan-style tomato and bread salad. It is heartier than the typical Caprese salad and is a fantastic way to use up some older and drier loaves of bread. Plus with summer coming up, fresh and flavorful tomatoes will be in plentiful supply which will add so much to this simple salad. Remember to give yourself about 15 mins of extra time to make this salad, as it really helps when salting and draining the tomatoes to intensify the flavor. Add a grilled protein to this salad to create a filling meal.
2. Ricotta Gnudi
When most people think of Italian dishes, the first thing they’ll envision is pasta. You don’t need to settle for the most obvious and easy-to-make options, however. Sometimes, it’s worth putting a little effort into it, and a Ricotta Gnudi is more than worth considering. It’s quick and easy to make, while tasting great.
Ricotta Gnudi is basically the filling of a ravioli pasta that is gently floured and boiled in hot water. The key is to use the thickest ricotta to ensure that the Ricotta Gnudi holds up well during the brief cooking process. You can then pair it with a delicious sauce, like a marinara. Ricotta Gnudi is incredibly pillowy and light, and is a great option for a pasta-free Italian dinner.
3. Beef Braciole
Also known as Italian stuffed beef, beef braciole can be one of the notable dishes to learn. It’s one of the tastier options to pick and doesn’t take a lot of time and effort.
This southern Italian speciality, is an easy dish to make for a crowd. While you’ll have to slow-cook this, you won’t have to spend a lot of time hovering around the oven. Instead, you might even be able to leave it to simmer, giving it an occasional stir, while you visit with your family and friends . After a few hours of minimal cooking effort, you’ll have a great family meal ready for the table. Add some healthy and tasty sides to this meal such as a fresh salad, polenta or even creamy pureed cauliflower with fresh herbs.
4. Bolognese
Spaghetti bolognese is one of the most obvious Italian recipes to try, and you might’ve had this a few times in a restaurant. Making a really delicious bolognese doesn’t need fancy ingredients and is super easy to make at home.
The one caveat when making bolognese is simmering it for a long time. This will add so much flavor to your meal and if you’re making a big batch of bolognese, you’re sure to have leftovers for a few dinners. If you don’t have the time to do it, you can try a more basic bolognese recipe that doesn’t take as much cooking time.
I love to use lentil or chickpea pastas when making bolognese since the heartiness of the sauce helps to cover any differences in flavor of these alternative pastas vs traditional wheat pastas.
5. Lasagna
Lasagna is a family favorite, makes a huge meal (plus leftovers) and is the second obvious Italian recipe everyone should learn. While it takes a little bit of work, it’s quite a tasty option, and shouldn’t have a problem filling you and your family up. Making Lasagna is actually quite simple - it’s all about layering three main ingredients, the pasta, the sauce and the cheese.
If you buy pre-made lasagna sheets, making lasagna is even easier. There are usually 2 kinds of pre-made lasagna sheets, ones you need to cook prior to layering the lasagna, and ones where you don’t have to pre-cook the sheets. If you do buy the no-cook lasagna sheets, make sure that the sheets are fully covered by the other ingredients, otherwise they tend to get very dry during the baking time.
I like to add a fresh green salad on the side of lasagna, or if you’re feeling really adventurous, you can add grated vegetables into the sauce to amp up the nutritional value.
Those were my top 5 Italian recipes that everyone needs to learn to cook. Which ones are you going to try this week? Let me know in the comments below!
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Hey! I’m Renata!
Your intuitive nutrition coach and fellow food lover. I’m here to help you find the foods that work best for your body, without feeling deprived or starving.
