Italian cuisine is one of the most famous and popular in the world. It is bright, satisfying, aromatic and has its own centuries-old traditions. It’s also pretty simple, so you can easily make these 20 delicious Italian dishes yourself!
Ravioli
Cute little pasta dough dumplings with a variety of fillings. Try it with spinach and ricotta!
You will need: 250 g flour, 5 eggs, 300 g ricotta, 300 g spinach, a pinch of nutmeg, 30 g butter, 2 tsp. olive oil.
Preparation: Mix 1 egg, 4 yolks and flour in a blender, and then knead the elastic dough with your hands. Put it in the refrigerator for half an hour. Sauté chopped spinach in a frying pan in a mixture of two oils, season and mix with ricotta.
Roll out the dough very thin and cut in half. Place small portions of the filling on one layer, cover with the second and cut. Seal the ravioli on all sides with a fork and cook in boiling water until they float.
Carbonara
Classic Italian pasta recipe from the Lazio region.
You will need: 400 g spaghetti, 6 tbsp. olive oil, 2 cloves of garlic, 300 g of ham, 4 yolks, 100 g of grated Parmesan, 200 ml of 10% cream, spices.
Preparation: Fry the garlic in olive oil and add finely chopped bacon to it. Beat the yolks with cream and a little salt. Add the boiled spaghetti to the bacon, stir and pour in the beaten yolks. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and after 3 minutes remove from heat. When serving, you can add another yolk.
Bolognese
Bolognese is an Italian meat sauce most often served with pasta or spaghetti.
You will need: 900 g minced beef, 300 g onion, 1 head of garlic, 50 ml olive oil, 50 g each of basil, oregano and parsley, 100 g tomato paste, 100 g cheese, 250 ml broth, 150 g ketchup, 100 g tomatoes , spices.
Preparation: Chop the onion and garlic and fry in olive oil. Add minced meat and fry for about 20 minutes, breaking up any lumps. Beat peeled tomatoes, ketchup and tomato paste with broth in a blender and add to meat. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, add herbs and continue cooking for another 15 minutes. Serve with spaghetti and grated cheese.
Lasagna
A kind of multi-layer casserole with minced meat, mushrooms and several types of cheese.
You will need: 10 lasagna sheets, 600 g Bolognese sauce, 600 g minced meat, 60 g butter, 2.5 tbsp. flour, 2 tbsp. olive oil, 750 ml milk, 500 g cheese.
Preparation: Melt the butter, add flour and stir so that there are no lumps. Slowly pour in the milk and reduce the sauce to the consistency of sour cream. Fry the minced meat in olive oil until half cooked and mix with the bolognese.
Pour some white sauce into the pan, lay out layers of lasagna and cover with minced meat. Top with cheese, white sauce again, and repeat. Sprinkle the last layer of bechamel generously with cheese, leave for 10 minutes and bake for half an hour at 180 degrees.
Porchetta
Baked pork roll with spices that can be easily prepared in the oven.
You will need: 2 kg of lard with meat layer, 100 g of olives, 100 g of walnuts, 3 pickled peppers, 6 cloves of garlic, 1 pack of oregano, 1 tbsp. grainy mustard.
Preparation: Rub the lard with salt and oregano and place chopped nuts and olives on top. Arrange the garlic cloves and pickled peppers, brush everything with mustard, roll it up and tie it with kitchen string. Bake it for 1.5 hours at 190 degrees.
Saltimbocca
Tender beef schnitzel wrapped in a slice of prosciutto.
You will need: 700 g tenderloin, 100 g prosciutto, 3 stalks of sage, 80 g butter, 250 ml white wine.
Preparation: Cut pieces of tenderloin up to 10 mm thick, place sage leaves on top and wrap in prosciutto. Melt the butter and fry the meat until golden on both sides. Then put it in the oven for 5 minutes at 180 degrees. Pour the wine into the pan and slightly reduce the sauce. Drizzle it over the meat when serving.
Caprese
The simplest, but most recognizable Italian appetizer made from tomatoes, mozzarella and basil.
You will need: 2 mozzarella balls, 2 tomatoes, 1 bunch of basil, garlic, spices, olive oil, balsamic.
Preparation: Cut the tomatoes and mozzarella into slices, overlap and season. Sprinkle with chopped basil and garlic, drizzle with olive oil and balsamic.
Frittata
Even an ordinary omelette in Italy is prepared in its own way!
You will need: 4 eggs, 1 bunch of parsley, spices, 50 g Parmesan, 1 onion, 1 tomato, 1 pepper, 2 tbsp. vegetable oil, spices, 2 cloves of garlic.
Preparation: Beat eggs with chopped herbs and grated Parmesan. Roughly chop all the vegetables and gradually fry until soft. Pour the egg mixture over them and wait until it sets. While the middle is still liquid, place the frittata in the oven for 15 minutes at 180 degrees.
Potato gnocchi
Flavorful dumplings can be served separately, instead of a side dish or with soups.
You will need: 400 g potatoes, 260 g flour, 1 egg, Parmesan.
Preparation: Boil potatoes until soft and mash. Mix with egg, flour and grated cheese, roll the dough into sausages and cut into pieces. Cook in salted water for 3-5 minutes after the gnocchi floats.
Pizza Margherita
The most popular Italian pizza, which will also become a wonderful basis for your experiments.
You will need: 1.5 cups flour, 1 tsp. yeast, 1 tsp. sugar, 0.5 cups of water, a pinch of salt, 5 tbsp. olive oil, 3 tbsp. tomato paste, 1 clove of garlic, 6 basil leaves, salt, 200 g mozzarella, 8 cherry tomatoes.
Preparation: Dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water and leave for 15 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of oil, stir and knead the dough with the sifted flour. Keep it warm while you make the filling. Fry the garlic in the remaining oil, add tomato paste and bring to a boil. Season and simmer for a couple of minutes, then stir in the chopped basil.
Remove the garlic and cool the sauce. Cut the mozzarella into slices and the cherry tomatoes into slices. Roll out the dough into a layer 3 mm thick with sides, brush with sauce, add pieces of mozzarella and tomatoes. Bake for 10-15 minutes in the oven at 220 degrees.
Panini
Closed Italian sandwiches are served hot. We offer the simplest recipe!
You will need: 1-2 ciabattas, 2 tomatoes, 150 g ham, 125 g cheese, lettuce, spices, pesto sauce, olive oil.
Preparation: Cut the ciabatta, drizzle the cut side with oil and brush with pesto sauce. Layer the filling to taste, close the sandwich and fry in a frying pan or grill.
Chicken Parmignana
Tender chicken in tomato sauce with melted Parmesan cheese. Another delicious Italian recipe!
You will need: 600 g chicken fillet, 1 mozzarella ball, 2/3 cup bread crumbs, 2 eggs, 1 bunch of parsley, 7 tbsp. olive oil, 50 g Parmesan, 400 g tomatoes in their own juice, 1/3 cup red wine, 1 onion, 3 cloves garlic, oregano and basil.
Preparation: Chop the onion and garlic as finely as possible and fry in half the oil until soft. Pour in the wine, evaporate to half and add chopped tomatoes. Simmer for 10 minutes, add herbs with spices, and remove from heat after 2 minutes.
Separate and beat the egg whites, dip the beaten fillet in them and roll in the crumbs. Fry the chicken in a frying pan, place in the boiling sauce and simmer for 7 minutes, turning once. Before serving, sprinkle with grated cheese and herbs.
Risotto
The second most famous Italian dish after pasta, you can change the fillings and combinations at least every day.
You will need: 2 cups rice, 3 cups broth, 3 tbsp. olive oil, 1 onion, 1/3 cup white wine, 2 tbsp. butter, 1/3 cup grated cheese.
Preparation: Fry chopped onion in olive oil, add rice to it and fry until transparent. Pour in wine and evaporate, stirring. Gradually add the broth and continue cooking the rice over low heat for about 20 minutes. At the end, add butter and cheese.
Cacciucco
The thick and aromatic soup is reminiscent of seafood goulash.
You will need: 2 liters of water, 300 g of different types of fish, mussels, squid and shrimp, 140 g of onion, 80 g of carrots, 25 g of garlic, chili, 60 g of celery, 30 ml of olive oil, 300 g of tomato sauce, 150 ml red wine, spices and herbs.
Preparation: Clean the fish, cover the heads with bones with water and simmer the broth for 40 minutes. Strain it and add the boneless meat back. Chop vegetables and fry in olive oil. Add seafood to them and simmer for 7 minutes with tomato sauce and wine. Place the contents of the frying pan and the fish into the boiling broth, season and simmer for 15 minutes over low heat.
Minestrone
Italian vegetable soup, the composition of which can be changed on the go according to desire and mood.
You will need: 1 carrot, 1 onion, a quarter of a celery root, half a zucchini and an eggplant, 2 stalks of celery, 1 clove of garlic, 2.5 liters of water, 1 tomato, 2 tbsp. lentils, spices.
Preparation: Coarsely chop and fry celery root, half a carrot and half an onion without oil. Place in a saucepan, add water, add spices and simmer the broth for 20 minutes.
Remove the onions, carrots and celery from the broth, add the lentils and other diced vegetables to the pan. Cook the soup until done and season as needed.
Semifredo
This is something between classic gelato and frozen meringue.
You will need: 2 eggs, 250 ml 35% cream, 30 g sugar, 70 g candied fruits, 50 g pistachios, a handful of berries.
Preparation: Beat the egg whites until stiff, and do the same with the cream. Separately, beat the yolks with sugar until light. Combine all three parts, add berries, candied fruits and nuts, and pour into the mold. Place the dessert in the freezer for 5 hours.
Sabayon
An original Italian dessert based on wine and egg yolks.
You will need: 100 g sugar, 6 yolks, 150 ml marsala.
Preparation: Beat the yolks with sugar until white and place in a water bath. Slowly pour in the wine and continue whisking. The finished mass will thicken and triple in volume. Pour the cream into the fruit molds.
Panforte
A simple and delicious dessert with honey, nuts, fruits and spices.
You will need: 50 g of dark chocolate, 1 cup each of honey, hazelnuts, almonds, figs, dried apricots and flour, 0.5 cups of sugar, 1 tbsp. water, 1 tsp. cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander and ginger.
Preparation: Melt honey, sugar and water to a syrup, add chocolate pieces and stir. Mix all the nuts and dried fruits with flour and spices, pour in syrup and knead into a thick mixture. Spread it on a baking sheet in a thin layer and put it in the oven at 150 degrees for half an hour.
Panna cotta
This delicate creamy jelly is served with berry sauce, caramel or chocolate.
You will need: 65 g sugar, 125 ml fat milk, 250 ml 33% cream, 8 g gelatin.
Preparation: Pour gelatin with water according to instructions and let it swell. Combine the cream with milk and bring to a boil with sugar, then remove from heat and let cool slightly. Pour in the gelatin, stir with a whisk, pour into molds and put in the refrigerator overnight.
Tiramisu
This “king” of Italian desserts is adored all over the world. You too can easily make tiramisu at home!
You will need: 6 eggs, 500 g mascarpone, 250 g savoiardi, 150 g sugar, 300 ml espresso, 2 tbsp. cocoa, 40 ml cognac.
Preparation: Separate the yolks and beat them with sugar until beautiful foam, and carefully mix them with the mascarpone. Separately, beat the whites to stiff peaks and gently combine the mixtures with a spatula. Add cognac to your coffee.
Dip each savoiardi stick in coffee for a couple of seconds and place them in one layer. Add a layer of cream on top, and repeat until the end of the ingredients. Sprinkle the last layer of cream with grated cocoa and place the tiramisu in the refrigerator overnight.