10 Best Italian Recipes You Must Try Now

The world of Italian cuisine is an intoxicating blend of flavors, with its aromatic herbs, rich sauces, and time-honored techniques. Whether you’re an experienced chef or a home cook looking to expand your culinary horizons, Italian dishes offer a delightful exploration into one of the most beloved cuisines globally. Here are ten Italian recipes you absolutely must try, each selected for its unique taste, ease of preparation, and the joy of bringing Italy's culinary traditions to your kitchen.

1. Classic Carbonara

Start your Italian culinary journey with the timeless Spaghetti alla Carbonara. This dish, despite its simple ingredients, is often the subject of culinary debate. Here’s how to make it the authentic way:

• Ingredients: Spaghetti, pancetta or guanciale, eggs, Pecorino Romano cheese, black pepper, and salt.
• Steps:
  1. Boil spaghetti until al dente in salted water.
  2. In a frying pan, cook pancetta or guanciale until crispy.
  3. In a bowl, mix eggs, grated Pecorino, and freshly ground black pepper.
  4. Add pasta to the pancetta pan, mix, then remove from heat.
  5. Quickly add egg mixture, stirring continuously to prevent scrambling the eggs.

🔎 Note: Never use cream in a true Carbonara; the creaminess comes from eggs and cheese!

2. Lasagna alla Bolognese

The quintessential comfort food, Lasagna alla Bolognese, requires patience but rewards with layers of flavor:

• Ingredients: Fresh lasagna noodles, Bolognese sauce, béchamel sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan cheese.
• Assembly:
  1. Layer Bolognese sauce at the bottom of your dish.
  2. Top with lasagna noodles, béchamel, a sprinkle of mozzarella, and a dusting of Parmesan.
  3. Repeat layers, ending with a generous topping of cheese.
  4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 30-45 minutes or until bubbly and golden.

🥗 Note: Letting the lasagna rest for about 15 minutes after baking makes slicing easier and enhances flavors.

3. Chicken Piccata

Light and flavorful, Chicken Piccata is a quick dish that captures the essence of Italian cooking:

• Ingredients: Chicken breasts, flour, butter, olive oil, capers, lemon juice, chicken broth, white wine.
• Steps:
  1. Dredge chicken in seasoned flour.
  2. Fry in a mix of butter and olive oil until golden.
  3. Remove chicken; add capers, lemon juice, broth, and wine to the pan, reducing the sauce.
  4. Return chicken, let simmer, and serve with the sauce.

🍋 Note: For an extra zing, finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

4. Bruschetta al Pomodoro

This classic appetizer, Bruschetta al Pomodoro, is simple but sublime:

• Ingredients: Good-quality bread, fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt.
• Preparation:
  1. Toast thick slices of bread until golden.
  2. Rub garlic on the toast while still warm.
  3. Dice tomatoes, mix with chopped basil, olive oil, vinegar, and salt.
  4. Top the bread with tomato mix, drizzle extra oil for flavor.

5. Pesto alla Genovese

Originating from Genoa, this vibrant sauce can be used on pasta or as a spread:

• Ingredients: Basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, pecorino, extra-virgin olive oil, salt.
• Making Pesto:
  1. In a food processor, blend basil, garlic, pine nuts, cheeses, and salt.
  2. Gradually add olive oil until you achieve the desired consistency.
  3. Toss with pasta or serve as a spread.

6. Osso Buco alla Milanese

A rich, comforting dish that epitomizes Milanese cuisine:

• Ingredients: Veal shanks, flour, butter, carrots, onions, celery, tomatoes, wine, broth, rosemary, thyme.
• Cooking:
  1. Season and flour veal shanks, brown in butter.
  2. Add vegetables and herbs, then deglaze with wine.
  3. Pour in broth, cover, and cook slowly for hours until tender.
  4. Serve with a side of gremolata (lemon zest, garlic, parsley).

7. Tiramisu

No Italian culinary journey is complete without the dessert that “lifts the spirits”:

• Ingredients: Ladyfinger biscuits, mascarpone, espresso, sugar, eggs, cocoa powder, Marsala wine.
• Preparation:
  1. Mix mascarpone with egg yolks, sugar, and Marsala.
  2. Quickly soak ladyfingers in espresso.
  3. Layer soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone mixture, and cocoa powder, repeat.
  4. Chill for several hours before serving.

8. Margherita Pizza

The simplicity of this pizza belies its perfect harmony of flavors:

• Ingredients: Pizza dough, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil, salt.
• Cooking:
  1. Stretch the dough into a thin base.
  2. Spread a light layer of tomato sauce.
  3. Top with fresh mozzarella and basil.
  4. Bake at the highest temperature your oven can reach.

9. Ribollita

This Tuscan vegetable soup is a celebration of seasonal produce:

• Ingredients: Kale, cabbage, cannellini beans, tomatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, olive oil, bread, and broth.
• Steps:
  1. Sauté onions, garlic, carrots, and then add greens and tomatoes.
  2. Add broth and beans, simmer until vegetables are soft.
  3. Stale bread can be layered on the bottom of the bowl, then ladle soup over it.
  4. Rebake for a thicker soup or serve directly for a brothier texture.

10. Gnocchi

These fluffy potato dumplings are a delight, especially when paired with sage butter or a rich tomato sauce:

• Ingredients: Russet potatoes, flour, egg, salt.
• Making Gnocchi:
  1. Bake or boil potatoes, then rice while hot.
  2. Incorporate flour, egg, and salt to make a dough.
  3. Form into ropes, cut into pieces, and roll them into the classic gnocchi shape.
  4. Cook in boiling salted water until they float, then serve with your favorite sauce.

Exploring Italian recipes is like taking a culinary trip through its diverse regions. Each dish tells a story of tradition, local ingredients, and time-honored methods passed down through generations. Whether you’re aiming to recreate the rustic simplicity of a Tuscan Ribollita or the intricate elegance of a Milanese Osso Buco, Italian cuisine encourages us to slow down, savor the process, and appreciate the flavors. Trying these ten recipes will not only expand your culinary skills but also bring the soul and passion of Italy into your home, proving that Italian food is indeed an art form worth exploring.

What is the difference between spaghetti and linguine?

+

The main difference lies in the shape. Spaghetti is long, thin, and round, while linguine is flat and narrower. These differences affect how sauces adhere to the pasta, with linguine being excellent with seafood or cream sauces, and spaghetti more versatile with thicker sauces like Bolognese.

Can I substitute Parmesan for Pecorino in Carbonara?

+

While traditional recipes call for Pecorino, Parmesan can be used as a substitute. Pecorino has a sharper, saltier flavor, which is why it’s preferred. If using Parmesan, consider adding a pinch of salt to mimic the taste profile of Pecorino.

How do you make fresh pasta at home?

+

To make fresh pasta, mix 1 cup of “00” flour with 1 egg per serving. Knead until smooth, let the dough rest, then roll out and cut into desired shapes. Cooking time will be shorter than dried pasta. Use a pasta machine for ease or practice your rolling skills.