25x our favorite Italian recipes
Here in the editorial office, we sometimes think that red wine and pasta water flow through our veins, so crazy are we about Italian cuisine. With all the deliciousness from the boot, we’ve collected quite a few favorite recipes by now. These are our 25 favorite Italian ricette!
1. Panzanella
Surprising perhaps, but we’re not starting the list with pasta. Instead, we’re putting panzanella in the spotlight first. The Italian bread salad is simple, but to die for when you make it yourself. Preferably with homemade bread, fresh tomatoes and really good olive oil as worthy stars of the show. You can wake me (Jeske) up for this at any time. Seriously.
2. Pasta Carbonara
Well, pasta can’t stay away for long, of course. Especially not pasta Carbonara. Creamy, salty and with a satisfying bite: if there were a food Tinder, we’d have checked these characteristics while looking for something delicious. We make this recipe for pasta Carbonara with cured egg yolk regularly. And did you know that you can take your classic Carbonara to the next level with a secret ingredient?
3. The very best pasta sauce
The most delicious recipes often don’t have a very long ingredient list at all. The same goes for this Italian pasta sauce, for which you only need four ingredients. Bet you already have them in your kitchen cupboard? Cook your favorite pasta and you’ll have heavenly pasta without having to move heaven and earth.
4. Pasta Primavera
It’s always springtime… when you spoon pasta primavera onto your plate. And the great thing is that you’ll also get a whole load of vegetables from the asparagus, green beans and peas.
5. The most delicious truffle pasta
Okay, truffle makes even a lot of—fill in the blank—taste better. But truffle and pasta seem made for each other. This recipe for truffle pasta is simple and ready in no time. And simply unbelievably delicious. Tip: get a good white truffle oil. It always comes in handy, trust us.
6. Pasta dough with red wine
Making your own pasta is a job that requires a little patience. But it’s fun. Especially when you make pasta dough with red wine. Well, now you understand exactly why we think pasta water and red wine flow through our veins. Warning: there’s a good chance you won’t want your pasta any other way from now on.
7. Spaghetti cacio e pepe (from Toscanini)
Another classic that’s on the list of every Italian cuisine lover: spaghetti cacio e pepe. Toscanini is our favorite Italian restaurant in Amsterdam, so naturally we have to use their recipe for cacio e pepe. Their secret? The pasta water and the quality of your ingredients. Get that right and you’re golden.
8. Easy and delicious spaghetti vongole
Spaghetti vongole looks incredibly impressive, and it tastes that way too. Still, you don’t have to make things difficult for yourself—especially when you make Julius Jaspers’ spaghetti vongole. Everything comes from one pan. That’s enough to make our hearts beat (even) faster.
9. A perfect lasagna
Is there anything more comforting than lasagna? The steaming Italian oven dish immediately gives you a warm feeling. Literally, because a good lasagna is obviously piping hot. And figuratively too. We’re truly a little in love with a classic lasagna, with fresh pasta sheets, a delicious Bolognese sauce and a crispy cheese crust.
10. Cannoli with ricotta
I know, you could easily eat three plates of pasta. But please save some room, because you should never, ever skip Italian desserts. Especially not these cannoli with ricotta. Eat them fresh, so the fried dough is still wonderfully crispy.
11. The very best Bolognese
Pasta Bolognese is boring? Not at all! A good Bolognese sauce is unbeatable. Get your minced meat from a quality butcher, choose a good red wine and make sure you have time. Don’t underestimate that last part. The longer your Bolognese sauce simmers, the deeper and richer its flavor becomes. See? Anything but boring.
12. Sgroppino
Put sgroppino on the table and it instantly becomes a real celebration. The Italian cocktail is wonderfully refreshing thanks to the sorbet, but still has a little kick from the vodka. Serve it between courses (to neutralize your taste buds a little) or finish your Italian dinner with it.
13. Babà Napoletano: Italian rum cakes
Speaking of desserts with a kick: have you ever heard of Babà Napoletano? These Italian rum cakes (from the cookbook Big Mamma’s Cucina Popolare) are your new favorite dessert, treat and coffee accompaniment all in one. A delicious, not-too-soggy little cake with the sweet, slightly bitter taste of rum. There’s only one thing to say about that: YUM.
14. Authentic Neapolitan pizza
Pizza is fantastic, but have you ever tried real pizza from Naples? Believe me, once you’ve tasted it, you’ll never want anything else. The crust is thick and airy, the flavor is slightly smoky from the wood-fired oven and the center is generously topped. Traditionally, you fold it into quarters, guaranteeing a greasy mess. But that makes this pizza even more delicious. The recipe (once again) comes from Big Mamma’s Cucina Popolare.
15. Pasta with onion ragù and parsley breadcrumbs
You could call this pasta with onion ragù and parsley breadcrumbs a pasta with a wintry touch. It’s one of our favorite recipes from Italopop by Vanja van der Leeden. We especially love the slightly sweet flavor created by the caramelized onions. This is the kind of recipe you suddenly realize you’ve made for the twentieth time.
16. Penne all’arrabbiata (from Spaghetteria)
We love going to Spaghetteria, and we usually order penne all’arrabbiata. It’s great that it’s easy to make and on the table in no time. I like to finish mine with plenty of burrata on top.
17. Fried ravioli with Parmesan
Ravioli with a modern twist: these fried ravioli with Parmesan. You may not immediately think of your deep fryer when it comes to pasta, but that will undoubtedly change after trying this recipe. The Parmesan crust gives the ravioli an extra bite. So go ahead and fry your ravioli. It’s absolutely delicious!
18. Spaghetti aglio e olio (from Toscanini)
Another one in the “simple but irresistible” category: spaghetti aglio e olio. Yes, from Toscanini again. All you need is garlic, good oil and a chili pepper (and parsley and Parmesan, if you insist), and you have a flavor bomb still simmering somewhere in Rome.
19. Risotto alla Milanese
The whole of Italian cuisine seems made for comfort food. Risotto certainly falls into that category too. After all the times we’ve made it, we still find Roberto’s risotto alla Milanese just as irresistible. The trick? Use good saffron and top-quality veal stock. Then it can hardly go wrong.
20. Melanzane alla Parmigiana
It almost sounds like an Italian love song: Melanzane alla Parmigiana. Don’t you think? In any case, we definitely feel love for this dish. You have to put some of that love into it too. Take the time to build those beautiful layers, for example. That allows the flavors to shine even more. This eggplant tower needs little more than a simple salad on the side.
21. Panna cotta (with caramel sauce)
A good panna cotta is silky smooth and almost tastes like velvet on your tongue. Make this panna cotta with caramel sauce and you’re guaranteed that flavor sensation. The recipe comes from Rutger bakt de 100 allerbeste recepten by Rutger van den Broek, the first winner of Heel Holland Bakt. So you already know you’ll be baking up something good tonight.
22. Ossobuco (by Anthony Bourdain)
Every Christmas, I (Jeske) have ossobuco on the menu. I don’t eat it during the rest of the year; it’s truly my ultimate Christmas dish. My favorite recipe? Anthony Bourdain’s ossobuco. He serves it with saffron risotto, which is simply brilliant. Put the pan on the stove, turn on some (Christmas) music and you have a wonderful evening.
23. Risotto al Barolo
Risotto, cheese and Barolo on your plate together? Say no more. FavorFlav’s Louise’s boyfriend even ate his knife while eating this risotto al Barolo recipe, and I can tell you: you’ll understand all too well once you’ve tried the dish.
24. A truly good salade caprese
For our ossobuco Christmas feast, we always eat a salade caprese. You may be thinking: that’s not exactly haute cuisine, is it? Maybe not. It’s not difficult to make and doesn’t require any complicated ingredients. But as several recipes from Italian cuisine prove, simplicity is often the key to success. As long as you have truly good ingredients. For a caprese, that means juicy, deep-red tomatoes, incredibly fresh basil and mozzarella from the cheesemonger. Drizzle with good olive oil and balsamic vinegar and the gates to Italian heaven are open.
25. An incredibly airy focaccia
The French have their baguette; the Italians have focaccia. If you don’t have an Italian bakery around the corner, homemade focaccia really does taste best. Airy inside, crispy outside and topped with exactly the right amount of salt and rosemary. Nothing can beat that (and it rhymes).
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