Italian recipes
47 Italian recipes to cook at home, written for UK kitchens and supermarket ingredients.
Most of these take about 40 min from start to finish, and the quickest is Bresaola with Rocket and Parmesan at 10 min. 32 of the 47 are rated easy, and 17 are vegetarian. Newest additions: Amaretti, Baci di Dama and Beef Braciole.
Amaretti
Soft, chewy almond biscuits with a crackled, sugary top. Naturally gluten-free.
Baci di Dama
'Lady's kisses': small hazelnut biscuits sandwiched together with dark chocolate.
Beef Braciole
Thin slices of beef rolled around garlic, parsley and Parmesan, then slowly simmered in tomato sauce.
Biscotti
Crunchy, twice-baked Italian biscuits with almonds. Perfect for dunking in coffee or Vin Santo.
Bomboloni
Light Italian doughnuts rolled in sugar and filled with vanilla custard.
Bresaola with Rocket and Parmesan
Thin slices of air-dried beef with peppery rocket, Parmesan shavings, lemon and olive oil.
Bucatini all'Amatriciana
Thick hollow pasta in a tomato sauce with crispy guanciale, chilli and pecorino. A Roman classic.
Burrata with Roasted Tomatoes
Creamy burrata served with sweet roasted cherry tomatoes, basil and a drizzle of balsamic.
Caponata
A sweet and sour Sicilian stew of aubergine, celery, tomatoes, olives and capers.
Classic Lasagne
Layers of rich beef ragù, silky béchamel and pasta, baked until golden and bubbling. The ultimate make-ahead family dinner.
Cod alla Livornese
Cod fillets simmered in a tomato sauce with olives, capers and garlic. Light, quick and full of flavour.
Cotoletta alla Milanese
Thin breaded escalopes fried in butter until golden and crisp, served with lemon and rocket.
Crostata di Marmellata
A crumbly Italian jam tart with a lattice top, made with lemon-scented pastry.
Eggs in Purgatory
Eggs gently poached in a spicy tomato sauce with garlic and basil. Serve with crusty bread.
Farro Salad
Nutty farro grains tossed with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, mozzarella, basil and a lemon dressing.
Fritto Misto
A light, crisp mix of fried squid, prawns and white fish, served with lemon and aioli.
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina
Soft potato gnocchi baked in tomato sauce with melting mozzarella and basil until bubbling.
Italian Wedding Soup
Tiny meatballs, small pasta and greens in a clear chicken broth. Hearty but light.
Lemon Ricotta Cake
A moist, light cake made with ricotta and lemon. Simple and not too sweet.
Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli
Little ear-shaped pasta with crumbled sausage, tender broccoli, garlic and chilli. A classic from Puglia.
Osso Buco
Veal shin slowly braised with white wine, tomato and vegetables, finished with a fresh gremolata of lemon, garlic and parsley.
Pappa al Pomodoro
A thick Tuscan tomato and bread soup with garlic, basil and olive oil. Simple, comforting and very cheap.
Pappardelle ai Funghi
Wide ribbons of pasta with garlicky pan-fried mushrooms, thyme, a little cream and Parmesan.
Pasta alla Norma
A Sicilian pasta of fried aubergine in a rich tomato and basil sauce, topped with salty ricotta salata.
Penne alla Vodka
Penne in a silky, rosy tomato and cream sauce with a splash of vodka and plenty of Parmesan.
Peperonata
Sweet peppers slowly stewed with onion, tomato and garlic until soft and jammy.
Piadina
Thin Italian flatbreads cooked in a dry pan and filled with ham, cheese and rocket.
Pollo alla Diavola
Spatchcocked chicken marinated in lemon, garlic, chilli and rosemary, roasted until crisp and spicy.
Porchetta
Rolled pork belly stuffed with garlic, fennel seeds and herbs, slow-roasted with crackling.
Ribollita
A thick Tuscan bread and bean soup with cavolo nero and vegetables. Even better reheated the next day.
Ricotta Gnudi
Pillowy dumplings of ricotta and Parmesan served in sage brown butter. Lighter than gnocchi.
Rigatoni alla Gricia
Rigatoni with crisp guanciale, pecorino and lots of black pepper. The ancestor of carbonara and amatriciana.
Risi e Bisi
A Venetian dish of rice and peas cooked in stock, somewhere between a risotto and a thick soup.
Risotto alla Milanese
A golden saffron risotto finished with butter and Parmesan. The classic partner for osso buco.
Rosemary Focaccia
A light, airy Italian flatbread with a crisp base, dimpled with olive oil, sea salt and rosemary.
Salsiccia e Fagioli
Italian sausages simmered with borlotti beans, tomato, garlic and sage. A rustic Tuscan one-pot supper.
Semifreddo
A light frozen dessert of whipped cream, eggs and sugar, served in slices with berries.
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Spaghetti tossed with garlic gently fried in olive oil, chilli and parsley. A classic late-night Italian supper.
Spaghetti al Limone
Spaghetti in a bright, silky sauce of lemon, butter and Parmesan. Ready in the time it takes to cook the pasta.
Spaghetti Bolognese
A rich, slow-simmered beef and tomato ragù with a splash of red wine, tossed through spaghetti. The family favourite, done right.
Stracciatella Soup
A Roman egg-drop soup: beaten egg and Parmesan swirled into hot broth to form delicate ribbons.
Torta Caprese
A rich, flourless chocolate and almond cake from Capri, with a crisp top and fudgy middle.
Torta della Nonna
'Grandmother's cake': a lemony custard tart topped with pine nuts and icing sugar.
Tortellini in Brodo
Little filled pasta served in a clear, rich chicken broth with Parmesan. Comfort food from Emilia-Romagna.
Zeppole
Light, puffy Italian fried doughnuts dusted with icing sugar. Best eaten warm.
Weeknight Margherita Pizza
A quick yeasted dough, a no-cook tomato sauce and a very hot oven. Pizza night, sorted.
Creamy Garlic Prawn Pasta
Juicy prawns in a garlicky Parmesan cream sauce with lemon and parsley. On the table in 25 minutes.