Italian Food Just Like Nonna Used to Make
Italian is one of the most popular and delectable cuisines in the world. However, you don't need to go to an upscale Italian restaurant to enjoy an authentic Fettuccine Alfredo or risotto. It simply takes fresh ingredients and a bit of know-how. Here are 20 popular Italian dishes that are easy to make at home.
1. Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
This Naples classic uses just spaghetti, garlic, olive oil, and chili flakes. It's incredibly simple to make, but it doesn't skimp on the flavor. There's even a nice kick of spice for those who like a little heat. You can whip up a big batch of this dish in only 20 minutes, making it a perfect weeknight meal.
2. Caprese Salad
This refreshing salad originated in Capri, and anyone can make it at home. All you need are ripe tomatoes, olive oil, basil, and a pinch of salt. This salad is more about quality ingredients than a complicated cooking process. In fact, there's no actual cooking, so it's a great starter for when you're hosting a dinner party.
3. Margherita Pizza
Imagine only needing pizza dough, tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil, and olive oil to make a traditional and beloved Italian pizza. With the margherita pizza, that's all you need. It's the perfect pizza for beginners, and its beauty lies in how it showcases its fresh, quality ingredients.
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4. Risotto alla Milanese
People are intimidated by risotto because it can be quite labor-intensive. The truth is that you can easily make homemade risotto, as it's just a type of rice slowly cooked in broth until it becomes delightfully creamy. This version adds saffron to give it a lovely golden hue.
5. Fettuccine Alfredo
Alfredo is just pasta tossed with Parmesan and butter. There's no actual cream in it, even though it tastes quite creamy. This rich dish only requires three ingredients: pasta, butter, and cheese. That's all it takes to make this delicious and velvety pasta dish.
6. Bruschetta al Pomodoro
This satisfying antipasto is super easy to make at home. Just get some rustic bread and top it with fresh tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, and a bit of salt. You'll be surprised by how bold the flavors taste.
7. Penne all'Arrabbiata
Arrabbiata means "angry" in Italian, but for this dish, it's in reference to the chili peppers cooked in the tomato sauce. This dish packs flavor, and with only a handful of ingredients, you can have a spicy dish of pasta in under 20 minutes.
8. Minestrone Soup
A hearty vegetable soup, minestrone is made with pasta, beans, or rice. It lets you clean out your pantry and enjoy a comforting bowl of soup with a wonderful depth of flavor. If you can chop and simmer, you can make this classic Italian soup.
9. Cacio e Pepe
This dish is a Roman classic. Cacio e Pepe translates to "cheese and pepper", and that's all you need in addition to pasta. It's all about the hot pasta water mixed with cheese to create a creamy sauce.
10. Chicken Piccata
You can serve this Italian-American dish to your family twice a week, because it's that easy to make. Piccata is chicken cutlets cooked in lemon, butter, and caper sauce, and it's zesty and impossible not to indulge in.
11. Lasagna al Forno
Lasagna might be the most iconic Italian dish, and it's not difficult to make. Layers of pasta sheets, béchamel, meat sauce, and an ample amount of cheese create something of a savory Italian cake and a masterpiece.
12. Gnocchi al Pomodoro
This dish pairs gnocchi, soft potato dumplings, with a simple tomato sauce. You don't have to make the gnocchi from scratch to create this memorable dish, but you do have to top it with Parmesan and basil to bring it all together.
13. Eggplant Parmesan
Layers of soft eggplant, marinara, mozzarella, and parmesan form a comfort classic that will appease any vegetarian. You need to put in a bit of work to layer the ingredients, but then the oven does the rest.
14. Pasta Carbonara
Pasta mixed with the richness of eggs and the addition of Pecorino Romano, pancetta or bacon, and black pepper makes a quintessential Italian dish that anyone can make. This meal can be made in under half an hour and is budget-friendly.
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15. Pesto Genovese with Pasta
Hailing from Genoa, pesto is a bold, flavorful, and punchy sauce made from garlic, basil, pine nuts, olive oil, and parmesan. Let your food processor do the heavy lifting to make the sauce while you cook the pasta, and then mix it.
16. Stuffed Shells
Stuffed shells are a great dish to make at home for kids. It's large shells with ricotta, spinach, and herbs. It's then baked in tomato sauce with mozzarella to create a hearty and creamy dish.
17. Polenta with Mushrooms
Polenta is a creamy cornmeal porridge that can elevate any homemade Italian dish. It's a comforting base for your favorite Italian ingredients. We recommend topping it with sautéed mushrooms, garlic, and fresh herbs.
18. Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp fans should make this Italian favorite at home. It's a quick dish with shrimp, garlic, lemon, butter, and white wine. You can serve it over pasta or with a chunk of rustic, crusty bread.
19. Baked Ziti
Baked ziti is a pasta casserole with layers of ricotta, marinara, and mozzarella, and you can add meat if you want. It's a close relative to lasagna, but it's also its own delicious thing.
20. Calzone
This folded pizza is surprisingly easy to make at home. It's a pizza pocket with cheese, sauce, and any vegetable or meat toppings you want.
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