Three delicious recipes for preparing classic Italian-style food.
The next time you are craving food, instead of calling in your order to your favorite restaurant, try making one or more of these classic Italian recipes.
Pasta Faigoli
This classic soup is often served as a first course at Italian restaurants. It is usually accompanied by fresh garlic rolls. If you can’t find the ditalini pasta you can substitute elbow macaroni.
Ingredients:
- 6 ounces smoked bacon (1/2 package) - diced
- 1 cup onions - peeled and diced
- 1 cup carrots - peeled and diced
- 1 cup celery - diced
- One (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes in sauce
- Two (15 ounce) cans of cannellini beans - drained
- 1 quart beef broth
- 2 cups water
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 cup dried ditalini pasta
- 4 cloves garlic - peeled and minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh savory - minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage leaves - chopped fine
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- parmesan cheese
Directions:
- Cook the bacon in a large frying pan until lightly brown but not crispy.
- Remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
- Drain the bacon drippings from the pan reserving 2 tablespoons.
- Add the reserved bacon drippings to a large stock pot over medium heat.
- Add the onions, carrots and celery to the pot and cook until the onions are translucent approximately 5 minutes.
- Add the can of crushed tomatoes, beans, beef broth, water and bay leaves to the pot and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Remove the bay leaves.
- Puree half of the beans in a blender or food processor and add back to the pot.
- Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium.
- Add the pasta, garlic, savory, sage, salt, pepper and reserved bacon to the pot and cook until the pasta is done, approximately 10-15 minutes, while stirring frequently to ensure the pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Pour into individual soup bowls and garnish each bowl with freshly grated parmesan cheese prior to serving if desired.
Chicken Piccata Recipe
Makes 4 servings. Serve this dish on top of rice or noodles if desired.
Ingredients for the chicken:
- 1 pound chicken breasts
- 3 cups vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups vegetable oil
Directions for the chicken:
- Remove any tendons and fat from the chicken.
- Pound the chicken with the flat side of a meat mallet then cut into 2” pieces.
- Place the oil in a large frying pan or sauce pan and heat to medium high.
- While the oil is heating up mix together the flour, eggs, water, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Coat each piece of chicken with the batter and place into the pan of heated oil.
- Fry the chicken for approximately 5 minutes or until golden brown on each side.
- Remove the cooked chicken to a plate covered with paper towel to absorb any excess oil.
Ingredients for the sauce:
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 1 cup white wine
- 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon capers
Directions for the sauce:
- To make the sauce add the lemon juice and wine to a small sauce pan set over medium heat.
- In a small cup dissolve the chicken bouillon in the hot water then add to the sauce pan.
- In a small bowl make a paste of the corn starch and cold water then stir into the pan.
- Whisk the sauce continuously and bring it to a boil then turn the heat down to low and simmer until the sauce has thickened.
- Add the chicken pieces to the sauce and heat for 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon balm.
- Sprinkle the capers on top of the chicken prior to serving.
Tiramisu Recipe
Tiramisu is a traditional Italian dessert. If you are having trouble finding the mascarpone cheese you can substitute cream cheese. Classic tiramisu is made with lady fingers which are not always available. The margherite cookies make an acceptable substitute. If you use lady fingers reduce the amount of hot water and coffee liqueur to ¾ cup each.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee powder
- 1 cup coffee liqueur
- One (14 ounce) package Stella D’oro margherite cookies
- 6 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Two (8 ounce) packages mascarpone cheese - room temperature
- 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur
- 2 cups (1 pint) heavy cream
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Directions:
- In a small bowl mix together the water, instant coffee powder and 1 cup coffee liqueur.
- Layer the cookies onto the bottom of a 13x9x2 inch baking dish and pour the coffee mixture over them.
- In a mixing bowl beat together the egg yolks and sugar using an electric mixer.
- Add the vanilla extract, cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons of coffee liqueur and beat until smooth and creamy.
- In another mixing bowl whip the heavy cream until soft peaks are formed.
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the cheese mixture then spoon on top of the prepared cookies.
- Mix together the cocoa powder and cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Evenly dust the top of the tiramisu with the cocoa cinnamon mixture.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours prior to serving.
Would you like to get your children interested in cooking? See the article Italian Recipes for Kids to Make for 4 easy-to follow recipes.
The copyright of the article Traditional Italian Meal in Italian Cuisine is owned by Lynn Smythe. Permission to republish Traditional Italian Meal must be granted by the author in writing.
